From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Advertisement leaflet for Rototherm thermometers, comparing them to older mercury-based models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 156\1\ scan0045 | |
| Date | 1st September 1934 guessed | |
| Do you look at a Sundial to find out the time? Just as the sun-dial has been replaced by clocks and watches, so the old mercury thermometers must now be replaced by a newer, more accurate, and more convenient method of measuring the temperature. This is the Rototherm, recently brought to perfection after many years of intensive study and experiment. As will be evident from comparison, Rototherm is in every way far superior to the old mercury thermometer. In the first place, there were very few popular-priced thermometers that would work in any other position than the upright. This meant that they were almost invariably placed on a brick wall and indicated the temperature of this rather than the general temperature of the room. And as brick is extraordinarily retentive the temperature indicated was more often than not about half a day ‘out-of-date.’ Furthermore, the old type thermometers were themselves very slow to respond to any change. This, combined with the fact that the glass column had only to get a fraction out of its true position in the casing, to make for even further variation, all goes to prove that there was a great deal of inaccuracy even on quite expensive instruments. Unfortunately, inaccuracy was not their last and only sin. By no stretch of the imagination could they be called ornamental, and their unsightliness probably accounted more than anything for their unpopularity. They were almost without exception very difficult to read. As the glass used in the old mercury or spirit column thermometers was necessarily fragile, there was always the risk that this would break easily, with, very often, serious results caused by glass splinters and ‘stray’ mercury. This danger was especially great in connection with measuring the temperature of food-stuffs, etc. Bearing in mind all these vices, and remembering that since its first appearance about 350 years ago, the thermometer has remained practically unchanged—it would seem that the Rototherm is long overdue. Now—in order to prove its complete superiority—let us examine the Rototherm on each of the above points. Firstly—the Rototherm does not have to be fixed onto a wall. It is as movable as a desk clock. Accordingly it will always indicate the actual temperature of the room rather than of any particular wall, etc. The exact temperature is always recorded whether the Rototherm is standing BATH MODEL ROTOTHERM FAHRENHEIT HOT WARM TEPID FRESH PATENT No 378314 Floats while indicating temperature in degrees, also whether bath is 'hot,' 'warm,' 'tepid,' etc. Many colours. Practically unbreakable. BATH MODEL with Improved System, now 3/6 Desk and household model. FAHRENHEIT ROTOTHERM PAT No 378314 CORFIELD LTD. LONDON S.W.19 Quick response and great accuracy. Attractive colours. Indispensable. 3/6 Models are available for all purposes, and can be supplied in beautifully finished Chromium plated Frames and Stands suitable for every occasion. Ask to see leaflet illustrating the numerous models. | ||