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).
Letter arguing for a distinct, red liquid column type petrol gauge over a standard needle dial.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 44\4\ Scan116 | |
| Date | 14th March 1930 | |
| Messrs.Rolls-Royce,Ltd., Date 14.3.30. Page 3 that the instrument which controls the service of the car which requires the most frequent and vital replenishment, should be of a decidedly different form to the other instru- ments in any group or panel, so that it may be looked at in a different way, and considered as one more frequently used. We do not wish to labour the point, but we do feel confident that a round dial type of instrument, with a needle, unless it has an adjunct of some sort in the way of a red light or warning feature, is more liable to be missed than the red liquid column type for the frequent use required with a petrol contents indicator. Admittedly it does not match up with the other instruments in a group, all of which are of the needle or hand type, but this very point we claim is a great advantage. We hope you will not take exception to our putting this side of the situation to you, but we genuinely believe that it is a very important aspect of the case. We shall not lose any time in investigating the Bourdon tube of needle type of instrument, but as stated in our letter of yesterday, we have had little experience of it, and we must go into the matter very fully before saying any- thing definite. We remain, dear Sirs, Yours faithfully, H.M.HOBSON,Ltd., [Signature: T.P. Searight] Joint Managing Director. | ||