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).
Page from The Autocar magazine featuring articles on new automotive products, a clutch test, and general motoring news.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\2\ scan0168 | |
| Date | 11th November 1932 | |
| 944 The Autocar November 11th, 1932. NOTES AND NEWS CONTINUED MOBILE DETECTIVES DETECTIVES are being encouraged to become expert drivers. In the future it is hoped that all important police stations will have cars which will be at the disposal of detectives to expedite their work. COMPACT DIRECTION INDICATOR A COMBINED direction indicator and driving mirror has been marketed by the Atlantis Windscreen Co., Craven House, Kingsway, W.C.2, to work in conjunction with an indicator placed at the rear of the car. The Atlantis direction indicator. The mirror is designed for mounting on the off-side windscreen pillar and the rear indicator, which is in the form of an arrow, in the rear window or on the number plate. A switch on the instrument panel controls the appearance of arrows through the mirror surface. At the same time the red-coloured arrows of the rear indicator give a similar signal, while pressure on the foot brake operates a stop signal in both indicators. A parking light is incorporated in the mirror. The wiring of this combination outfit is done in a straightforward manner, and complete with wires and switch the device costs 38s. 6d. MOTOR INSURANCE LAW IN IRAQ MOTORISTS in Iraq were elated at the decision of an appeal court, that an insurance company, in the event of the total loss of a motor car, must pay the full amount for which the car is insured, and not merely the replacement value. "ELBOW GREASE" A NEW car polish has been produced by the Bee-Co., Stanley Buildings, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, which is the direct result of the work of an analytical chemist who accidentally hit on a method of dealing with beeswax in the course of his work with a company making colliery machinery. In normal use, this waterproof polish does its work very well indeed, and is, withal, extremely economical in action. It appears to be suitable for all types of paintwork, for fabric, and for polished woodwork, while it obliterates light scratches, and it is made in seven colours to suit cars. Incidentally, the firm also produces a car cleaner for use on really neglected bodies, and a tar remover. All three are sold in amply large tins at 1s. 6d., and this figure includes the cost of postage if application is made direct to the firm. HOW ABOUT CHRISTMAS? A CLUB party for the Christmas weekend is being held by the Light Car Club. The White Swan at Stratford-on-Avon has been chosen, and some members who usually spend Christmas together have already booked accommodation. Terms are 17s. 6d. a day inclusive, and rooms are being booked up rapidly. Letters should be sent direct to the hotel, which is a building over five centuries old—no information available about ghosts. A full programme for the week-end has been arranged. TOWARDS THE FAULTLESS CLUTCH Test of a New Light and Compact Clutch IT seems probable that, had the popular single-plate clutch been a little more perfect in its action, there would not have been the demand for devices whereby driving is made so much easier for the novice. In fact, a clutch that could be ill-used without ill-effect, and which would be entirely and absolutely smooth under all conditions, still has a chance of upsetting the course of general automobile design, in the opinion of many people. A new clutch, made by Roper and Wreaks, Ltd., of Sheffield, and handled by Mr. F.{Mr Friese} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Robinson, of 11, Warwick Row, Coventry, appears to go at least another two steps forward towards the perfect mechanism. The Autocar had an opportunity of trying this clutch—which, incidentally, has been taken up by at least one big concern—fitted to a light six-cylinder car, and there is no doubt that it set a very high standard indeed. Only an extended test would enable more to be said. With the hand throttle set to a fast tick-over it was possible to move away smoothly in top gear, and even up mild gradients; there was no trace of shudder in any circumstances; fast gear changing, up or down, was possible without shock even when the clutch was used savagely; and finally, continuous slipping of the clutch apparently had no evil after effects. In addition, the pedal action was among the lightest yet experienced. The whole design has, so to speak, been drawn round the Don-Felix clutch centre, which was described in these pages on December 4th of last year. This, it will be remembered, is flexible enough to cope with any irregularity or distortion in either the flywheel or the pressure plate, and has, also, cork rivets to hold the fabric linings. These rivets, besides allowing movement to take place without buckling, also stand slightly proud and so help to take up the initial contact. From a flexible plate, the logical development would be towards a "self-aligning" pressure plate, and this has appeared in the new clutch. The movement is fractional, but is enough to make all the difference. There are four operating levers. and these are pivoted to pillars which are held in turn by radially disposed bolts passing through them, and the heads of these bolts act as guides in slots which are cut in the pressed-steel cover plate. These bolts are not firmly held; short springs are used between the nuts and the inside diameter of the pressure plate. The clearances all round, however small, allow the plate to settle properly. The whole clutch is very light and compact, yet there are no fewer than twelve springs to distribute the load evenly. There are, it seems, distinct possibilities of even further developments in the not-so-distant future. DON-FLEX PLATE PRESSURE PLATE FULCRUM A sectional illustration of the clutch. The Roper and Wreaks clutch. D 6 | ||