Future of magneto ignition versus battery-based stand-by ignition systems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\1\ 01-page65 | |
| Date | 4th July 1933 | |
| X779 To W.M. From Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to R. {Sir Henry Royce} Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 4/W.J.4.7.33. MAGNETO IGNITION. The question of whether we should fit magneto ignition has been gone over many times. It was agreed by R. {Sir Henry Royce} two or three years ago that we should do away with the magneto on the Phantom as soon as possible. If the present battery ignition fails on the Phantom the magneto is not much use because it is impossible to start the car with it. There is not a single 'high grade' car produced now with magneto ignition. We think on the high class car there is merit in having a stand-by ignition. This ignition would not be a magneto but would be another battery set. We have already agreed on the Bentley that we shall carry a spare coil. To make the job complete we ought to carry a spare contact breaker and distributor and have means of clutching it up in the same way as we do the present stand-by magneto on the present 25 HP. We strongly recommend that on any future cars we should dismiss any idea of fitting magneto, but it is necessary to give consideration as regards how far we should go with a stand-by ignition set. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||
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).