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).
Correspondence page from a motoring journal discussing reader opinions on various topics.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\4\ scan0063 | |
| Date | 11th April 1939 | |
| THE Motor 404 April 11, 1939. CORRESPONDENCE Contd. The Interference with Television "Inconsiderate" USUALLY The Motor is so fair-minded and impartial that I am surprised at the attitude taken over television interference. If a motorist pollutes the air with unnecessary smoke he is regarded as a nuisance. If he drove past an outdoor concert party, his fellow motorists would be the first to condemn him. Why not the same attitude towards interference in the ether? The electrical noise radiated from an ignition system is quite as unnecessary to the performance of the engine as is smoke and exhaust noise, and is far more reaching in its effects. Research could easily correct the shortcomings of the present suppressors. It is not correct that a television set can be made immune from spark interference. Some relief can be obtained by giving the aerial directional properties, but fully to eliminate interference, such a principle would have to be carried to impossible lengths, beyond the pocket and available space of the average householder. S. FALLOON. Chelmsford. Motorists Will Accept Anything IF the fitting of suppressors becomes law, the motoring fraternity will accept the ruling with the same equanimity as it has accepted all the other restrictions and regulations. The average motorist in this country is about as articulate as a lump of dough, while the existing organizations are useless. If the whole motoring public decided on concerted action there would soon be a change of attitude on the part of the authorities. R. {Sir Henry Royce} D. {John DeLooze - Company Secretary} BAKER, F.R.G.S. Southsea. [Some of these points are answered in a paragraph on page 390.—ED. {J. L. Edwards} ] Yellow Lights for French Motoring A NOTICE just issued by L'Automobile Club de France concerns the recent announcement about yellow headlights in France and the fact that they are not compulsory on visiting cars. The president of the club, in his note, points out that French people hurl abuse at these visitors on account of their white head lamps. This is very naughty, of course, but obviously the remedy is simply to buy a couple of yellow bulbs at the nearest garage. This I would recommend English motorists to do when they bring their cars over to France. L.G.D. Paris. COPPER LINED.—How did the penny in the gasket get there? See letter below. The Penny in the Gasket A GASKET when removed from my Austin Twelve-Six was found to contain a penny—how it was inserted is a mystery. [See the photograph herewith.—ED. {J. L. Edwards} ] It is literally a "copper" gasket. The cylinder block and head show the obvious impression of the coin, but no other effects were apparent. G. {Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} BERRY. Southam, nr. Rugby. c22 Skating Rink Roads Not So Non-skid I WAS astonished that “Motorist Since 1913” (The Motor, March 21) commented favourably upon the non-skid properties of rubber paving in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, in wet weather. I have never before heard a word of praise for this surface, except in that it reduces noise and vibration. I have seen several minor accidents on rainy days on this short stretch, where motorists unacquainted with this part of Oxford have attempted to pull up too quickly. I have been told that there are, on an average, three accidents a day in this street when it is wet. ANOTHER ANTI-SKID. Oxford. Wet Wood Blocks the Most Dangerous Surface THE subject of road surfaces and road adhesion is a controversial one, but surely the efficiency of wood blocks has ceased to be controversial, for about 20 years. As one who motors 200 miles a week on London streets, I can say without hesitation, and probably without fear of contradiction, that wet wood blocks are by far the most dangerous surface for motor vehicles. The reason there are not more accidents on this type of surface is probably because any experienced motorist on finding himself on wet wood paving instinctively reduces speed, knowing that the efficiency of his brakes is reduced by a big percentage. Yet in this year of grace 1939 Councils are still putting down wood blocks! R. {Sir Henry Royce} P. A. {Mr Adams} HELPS (Lt.-Colonel). London, S.W.7. A Difference of Opinion on Street Lighting THE cost of first-class street lighting is, of course, quite small, but the money must be spent with some (equally small) intelligence. Having driven in almost every city, town and suburb in Europe during the past two years, I have yet to find an area so supremely miscontrolled in every respect, or so dangerously lighted, as this, in which Mr. G. {Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Harris (The Motor, March 28) states that the considerable sum of £74,000 has been expended. Birmingham. [Mr. Harris expressed the opinion that the street lighting of Birmingham “is really excellent and makes a great contribution to safe night driving.”—ED. {J. L. Edwards} ] A Defence of German Trade QUITE apart from the recent increase in anti-German feeling, partly arising from the recent European events, but at the same time obviously inspired, there have been articles in the general Press dealing with the general menace occasioned by German imports, most particularly German cars, and the terrible consequences which will ensue when the much-talked-of “Volkswagen” makes its appearance. There is one point, however, which we, as importers of German-produced motorcars, feel should be known to the motoring public generally. That is, Germany last year was the United Kingdom's largest foreign customer and the adverse balance for the United Kingdom, as a result of such trading, was a mere £3,500,000—compared with an adverse balance of £89,000,000—as a result of the United Kingdom's trading with the United States of America who, incidentally, bought from us far less goods than Germany. Another interesting feature is that, actually, there were 400 cars of English manufacture imported into Germany last year and, up to the present, these figures now show a proportionate increase for this present year. Therefore, in endeavouring completely to stop German importation of goods, and most especially cars which, obviously, some people are striving to do, is a foolish move; the reaction will, undoubtedly, result in eventually decreasing the trade from our best foreign customer and raising the adverse balance against the United Kingdom on trade exchange figures. BRITISH MERCEDES-BENZ, LTD. London, W.1. | ||