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).
Fire risk and usability of the ignition switch position on the steering column.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 37\1\ scan 121 | |
| Date | 10th October 1921 guessed | |
| Oy5 - G 18821 Sheet #2. that it can be unobtrusively mounted on the top of the steer-ing column, the twin cable being led to it up the center of the column. We believe that the position of the switch on the bottom of the steering column holds a risk of fire. In connection with this same matter, we would suggest that the present steering column switch be dispensed with and a control switch like the Delco with only two positions for the ignition handle should be used on the instrument board, so that the driver must always have both ignitions. This would avoid a lot of complaints of slow running, which come from the fact that the avarage American driver insists on running on magneto only because he thinks that the presence of a magneto implies that the battery ignition is not intended for general running. It would still be possible to examine both ignitions separately by breaking the magneto earth with the switch off and earthing the magneto against the crankchamber with the switch on. Yours truly, 10/G ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, Inc. Per M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley | ||