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).
Goshawk road test, detailing an ignition coil failure, its temporary replacement, and other vehicle performance observations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan016 | |
| Date | 18th March 1922 | |
| PARIS Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Hy{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Y4086 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/Go.18.3.22 re GOSHAWK Wa{Mr Wallis} and Ps met me at Boulogne. On the way from Boulogne to Paris the ignition coil gave out and left us stranded by 12 kilomètres from Abbeville. I had brought with me a spare battery ignition complete except coil. I anticipated that if the coil did give trouble I could get a spare from Paris but I did not allow from being stopped on the road. After being held up for about two hours we stopped a 40/50 Rolls Royce car privately owned and borrowed from him his coil and we ran on as far as Abbeville. At Abbeville we returned the coil and went round to a garage and bought a Ford trembler coil for 55 Francs. We screwed it down and made it a non trembler. We found that this coil worked perfectly and had no misfire at any speed, the current consumption was about normal. The Ford's agent at Abbeville told us that the Ford coil would work on anything from 4 to 30 Volts. I suggest you might pass this information to E.F.C. The car went very well over the bad roads, the steering is the worst feature on the car, the steering wheel oscillates in a manner similar to that of the car EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} is running. The shock absorbers and the bonnet soon started to rattle. There is also a peculiar vibration from the engine. I am pulling the front case off in Paris to have a look at it. Wa{Mr Wallis} and Ps say that they would be very pleased to run a Goshawk for you occasionally when you come over. They mention that they could always arrange for one of them to be away. I should certainly suggest that you get in touch with them because you will find it necessary to have someone who can speak French especially the technical terms. I am expecting a new coil at 4 O'clock this afternoon and shall leave Paris to-morrow. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||