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).
Summary of engine and vehicle improvements, including a new vacuum pump, electric starter, and a list of advancements in performance, handling, and comfort.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\5\ Scan137 | |
| Date | 18th September 1929 guessed | |
| (8) long hills and has ill effects on the slow running of the engine), a special little vacuum pump has been provided driven off the front end of the camshaft. This pump is of the most simple and reliable type, having ports uncovered by the piston instead of valves. The electric starter is of the type directly engaging a gear on the engine flywheel by moving the motor armature endwise magnetically. It is a patented relay system of R.R. invention, in which the switching operations occur automatically in sequence after the starter button on the instrument board is pressed, and finally the starter automatically disengages and comes to rest, even if the press button be held on. By this system the starter is rendered as proof as possible against careless handling, and operates with the minimum of noise: this starter system is unique, and an advance upon all previous types. Considering the increased power of the engine, and consequently its vigourous pulling at all speeds, the car is remarkably free from vibrations, this being due to the improved engine mounting, etc. We believe we can safely say that no other car engine, large or small, has such perfect carburation and distribution over its whole range of speed, and its long and consistent fuel consumption, when considers the engine capacity per mile. We have definitely gone forward in :- (1)... Riding qualities. (2)... Appearance. (3)... Performance - (acceleration, hills, and maximum speed.) (4)... Cold and warm distribution of fuel to the engine cylinders. (5)... Weight (saving, with equal life.) (6)... Cost, of which we say nothing unless we reduce the price. (This should not be advertised.) (7)... Less knocks in transmission due to parallel control of back axle. (8)... Lighter and generally better steering. (The 40/50. now feels like a much smaller car than Phantom or Silver Ghost.) (9)... Engine, especially the valve gear, more easy to get silent. (10).. The back axle is more easy to get silent, and probably keeps silent longer. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||