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 detailing test results and issues with a new Lucas windscreen wiper.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 167\5\ img019 | |
| Date | 30th November 1931 | |
| X6115 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst.2/AD. November 30th, 1931. The Joseph Lucas Research Laboratories. Well St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} Birmingham. For the attention of Dr. Turner. Dear Sirs, Lucas new type windscreen wiper. We have now had this wiper under test on our test car in France but regret to say that we have had a failure due to two driving pieces of the blade working loose on the driving shaft. The screw marked A has worked loose allowing the serrations which take the drive at the bottom of the piece marked B to become chafed thus destroying the serrations. To prevent this all that is required is a spring washer under screw A.{Mr Adams} in order to prevent it working loose. We have successfully fitted this to the two wipers and cured them from working loose. Another feature our tester complains of is the inefficiency of the wipers at speeds in excess of 50 M.P.H. The wipers at this speed and speeds above are actually not in contact with the glass due to the wind pressure passing along the face of the windscreen. It was found that the load of the wipers on the glass was very light - the actual pressure applied at the centre being 1.4 ozs. Presumably this could be a little stronger in order to prevent this wind pressure at high speeds affecting the wiper. Otherwise we are very satisfied with the wiper it appears to be a good job and remains very quiet in operation. We should be very interested to have your remarks on these two complaints. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED. Sketch attached. | ||