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).
Customer Commander Kidson's requests for specific vehicle modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\3\ scan0249 | |
| Date | 31th July 1930 | |
| -3- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}3/MJ.31.7.30.Contd. Commander Kidson objected to our patch. We told him that he would have to fix this up with the coachbuilders. We believe that he might be satisfied with the new arrangement on 25-EX, but we did not shew him these. He wanted a second speedometer in the rear of the car. Several of these have been fitted to Phantom 11 cars and we therefore told him that it was possible to have this fitted. He asked for two Lucas Festoon Lamps to be fitted under the bonnet on the tie rod joining the dash and radiator to enable him to inspect the engine at night. Presumably we can supply him with these as we should make a better job of the wiring than the body makers. We were also asked to supply a revolution counter. We did our best to dissuade Commander Kidson from insisting on this, telling him that we did not cater for it and that there was no satisfactory drive. We think that he will not press the point. We also considered the question of a foot switch for the horn. We again referred him to Messrs. Thrupp & Mabberly. ENGINE. Commander Kidson expressed a desire for a special hotted up engine. The speed 6 Bentley which he is driving has a 6 1/2/1 compression ratio. We told him that we could not discuss this with him as it was for the chief engineer to say what modification, if any, could be made from standard. We promised to ensure that the unit he had was the best we could offer him for power. | ||