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).
Endurance tests conducted on three types of footswitches.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 168a\2\ img392 | |
| Date | 9th September 1930 | |
| TO By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} C.M. C. Hy{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer}/Mi. C. Moy/en. re Footswitches. In order to obtain a figure of merit for the three types of footswitches now under consideration, a series of endurance tests have been carried out, the results of which prove that the special Lucas switch developed for R.R. is easily the most reliable. The special Lucas completed 49,060 operations before failure occurred. We consider this to represent a reasonable life. The standard Lucas switch, which is of smaller dimensions than the above type completed -3,570 operations before failure, whereas the R.R. switch to DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions}1121 only completed 13,690 before its first failure. We are of the opinion that the R.R. switch is too complicated for the work it has to do, too many small pieces tending to make it unreliable. Herewith details of the test :- The test consisted of mechanically operating the switch so as to switch 'on' and 'off' alternately, two pairs of 12v / 60 watt lamps, at a rate of 16 depressions per minute. Cont'd......... | ||