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).
Customer complaint and correspondence regarding a faulty Exide battery on a 20-HP car, chassis GF-74.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\4\ Scan034 | |
| Date | 13th February 1925 | |
| BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} C. to EFC. Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}/NRC{N. R. Chandler}11/EW13.2.25. Re 20-HP. Chassis GF-74. - Edgar Allen. The above owner has a standard Exide Battery fitted to his 20-HP. car, and the following is an extract from his letter dated the 5th. instant :- "I do not like the Battery and have written about it "before. There is too little margin between top "of plates and top of cells, so that there is not "enough room for the liquid, and it requires refilling "so often it is a nuisance. Also one of the terminal "wires is fixed over a vent hole, and the acid "quickly corrodes the insulation. I have "constantly to look at it and replace insulation with "tape. This is a serious defect and might easily "stop car running if insulation was corroded completely, "and might easily cause the car to get on fire. "Brother-in-law lost two cars in a Garage through this "cause, viz. acid eating through wire and causing "explosion and a spark." We have replied, pointing out to him that every effort is made to procure the best battery we know of, and we rather fear that it might have been overcharged during long daylight runs, with the result that the acid has been carried away by spraying. We pointed this out rather fully to him. He replies on the 12th. instant, as follows :- "Re Battery, - as the whole of the Engine is useless "if battery is out of action, the very best should be "supplied, and I am not satisfied with this one. I had "it charged recently with Mr. Parish and I cannot keep "it charged - keep testing it with (?) supplied. "After a run it is always low and I get poor light in "lamps. When running I charge so long, and switch off "to allow liquid to settle again, and then charge again. "I have tested running engine standing, with battery open "to watch effect. If there is more than about 1/8" of "liquid over the top of plates it froths over, proving "there is not sufficient space between the top of "plates and top of cells. This causes much more "constant attention than a good battery should need. "I will let you know when I can find time to bring car "over, probably in a week or two." We would be glad to have your comments on the above. contd. | ||