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).
Use of exhaust cutouts, proposing they become an optional extra, and also commenting on horns.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 59\3\ Scan036 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1924 | |
| X1069 To BJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. RG.{Mr Rowledge} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} PN.{Mr Northey} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} EXHAUST CUTOUTS. X.1163 X.4269 X.1069 X.4078. On other cars these are now more rarely fitted, but instead they have a freer and more noisy exhaust. Naturally I do not wish for this. They are a difficult, somewhat costly, and heavy fitting, which with its operating mechanism adds to the complicated appearance of the car generally. On most makes of cars they do not work satisfactorily. Personally I like to use the exhaust cut-out occasionally, when I must want to go fast, instead of so much horn or klaxon, and also for testing running of the ignition, distribution and carburation. However I should like to see it deleted on most of our cars, especially the present 40/50 which looks so complicated. Might I venture to suggest that it should be fitted as an extra on both 40/50 and Goshawk. Sales will instruct what they desire. I am agreeable to any of the three ways. We hope to produce a better scheme than 40/50, something like the one on Goshawk which I have here, which is not quite but nearly right. I greatly favour the low deep horn - Boa Constrictor that London usually fit. Derby do not use these. I have no horn on this Goshawk. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||