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 discussing the benefits of the Benjamin Klaxon switch over the existing starter button.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 37\1\ scan 120 | |
| Date | 18th August 1921 | |
| x 3199 2 FC SEP 18 1921 RECEIVED. CC Mr. Belnap Mr. Nadin Oy5 - G 18821 August 18, 1921 Mr. Claude Johnson, Managing Director, Rolls-Royce Ltd., London, England. Attention: Mr. Royce & Works Committee. X 4202 X. 805 X. 3199 Dear Sir: COPY Re: Parts on 4-IX (Replying R1/G17/6/21) Klaxon Switch We do not think that anything as complex as our existing starter button is needed for working the Klaxon. The Klaxon button, used almost universally on American cars, is made by the Benjamin Co., who have supplied push buttons for all Pullman cars for the past twenty-five years. On American cars, these Klaxon buttons though of cheap construction, costing only about 25¢, cause very little trouble and give complete satisfaction. For example, Mr. Belnap on Cadillac cars which he has used for the last eight years, and of which he has had about a dozen, has never had a case of trouble with these starter buttons. We are sure that the same cannot be said of the present Klaxon button. The Benjamin switch consists of two brass rings held apart by a light spring. The upper ring is molded into a "button" proper which is made of a cold pressed insulating composition; the lower ring is molded into a cylindrical base which is made of the same material. Because of the large choice of contact points around the ring, the contacts do not give trouble. A further advantage of the Benjamin push button is that it has a very light touch, whereas our starter push button requires very definite pressure to close it. Finally, a great advantage of the Benjamin switch is | ||