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 to J. Lucas & Co. Ltd discussing difficulties and suggestions for producing mechanically dipping and twisting headlamp reflectors.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61a\1\ scan0421 | |
| Date | 6th December 1928 | |
| COPY TO SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} COPY TO HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X7800 "CAMACHAHenry Royce's office in West Wittering". WEST WITTERINGHenry Royce's home town. CHICHESTER. 6th. December 1928. Messrs J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Lucas & Co. Ltd. Gt. King. St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} BIRMINGHAM. ATTENTION OF Mr. O.{Mr Oldham} LUCAS. Dear Sirs, X6555 X7800 Thank you for yours of the 3rd. inst. ref: OL/FEA. We are sorry to hear you are finding difficulty in producing the mechanically dipping reflectors for the P.100. lamps. In order to successfully compete with other members already in the field we must be able to do what they do if it is good. We think we should be able to dip and twist the beam of both lamps, and that the direction of twist can be set to suit right or left hand countries by slight dismantling and adjusting of the lamps. We do not remember, nor do we think we need tie ourselves up by trying to use, a dip and switch device where-in the offside headlamp is extinguished by the first degrees of dip of the nearside reflector. This is a complication and we somewhat doubt whether we ourselves appreciate its advantages. If as you say in the 4th. para. of your letter it is a practical suggestion to make the lamps with plain straight down dipping reflectors, is it not feasible therefore that one ought to be able with equal ease to make the lamps with twisting dipping reflectors by merely rotating the trunnion axis in the outer lamp case. Likewise the setting for the continent would be merely the rotation in the lamp case to the opposite side of the vertical axis. If you would pardon our suggesting it to you, and send us a blueprint of the lamp as far as it has gone, we would be pleased to offer you our suggestions in a concrete form. We are particularly keen on getting these lamps as we suggest, in order to avoid the use of some Very heavy and clumsy schemes which our customers now fit. X4477 Referring to your last para. we are very interested in these double filament bulbs with internal shields used in conjunction with a 2 way switch. We would be delighted if you would loan us a pair of these lamps and have them sent to our Experimental Dept. at Derby, for the attention of Mr. Hives. We will arrange for them to be fitted to a car and brought down here for Mr. Royce's inspection. Thanking you for the very kind attention you have given to all our remarks. Yours faithfully For ROLLS ROYCE LTD. (DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}) | ||