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).
Letter concerning the fire danger of a steering column switch and suggestions for a solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 48\3\ Scan019 | |
| Date | 28th June 1921 | |
| COPY. c Mr. Nadin. Mr. Bagnall. Mr. Hulley. Mr. Southern. Mr. Caswell. Oy2 - G 28621. June 28th 1921. Mr. Claude Johnson. Managing Director. Rolls-Royce Ltd., London. England. Attentuon. Mr. F.H.Royce & Works Committee. Dear Sir, Re Fire Danger of Steering Column Switch. We have received a letter from Mr. Southern on this subject as follows: "We hear from Mr Hamilton that Chassis 66-RB {R. Bowen} pre-war car recently gpt on fire doing serious damage to the car. The chauffeur reports that he had been cleaning the car with kerosene and when he finished he turned on the steering column switch and the fire started and lasted ten or fifteen minutes before the arrival of the local fire brigade who extinguished it. I report this for your interest in the matter of danger of the present steering column switch." We have shown this letter to Mr. Platford, who agrees that the danger is serious since he has had several similar experiences on test. Mr. Platford suggests that some form of guard should be devised. Our own suggestion would be to use an ignition control switch on the instrument board and the Klaxon button on top. of the steering column, where it is out of the way of petrol vapor. The Delee control switch, of which we hope very shortly to send a sample, can be readily made with four positions for the ignition handle, which will make it a perfectly satisfactory control for both ignitions and lights, and will leave the steering column available for the Klaxon button. Yours truly ROLLS ROYCE OF AMERICA. INC. (Sgd). M. {Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley. MO/G. | ||