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).
Arrangement and sourcing of dashboard controls and instruments for a chassis, including suggestions for suppliers.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\October1930-February1931\ Scan298 | |
| Date | 6th February 1931 | |
| SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} FROM DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} C. to WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C. to DY.{F R Danby} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ORIGINAL SECRET JAPAN 3. - CONTROLS, INSTRUMENT BOARD, ETC. Referring to SG{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}10/E4231., we have looked into the question of the arrangement of controls and instruments on the above chassis, and send herewith N. sch. 3214. shewing our suggestions. We believe it will be preferred to use a foot switch for dipping rather than the column position, partly for ease of control during driving and partly to avoid complication on top of the column. This latter would be especially pronounced when the twin top speed control is there. We may say we did investigate a combination switching scheme on the column a little while ago and R.{Sir Henry Royce} ultimately abandoned it on the grounds of complication. The suggestion for the instruments is that they shall be in a central patch which shall be the same for both cars, with the exception that the clock and speedometer may be interchangeable. The chief cost of the P. 2. patch we believe is due to the varying sources of supply for the special individual instruments which we use. In this case it is suggested that we go to a firm and ask them to supply the patch complete, with holes to receive our main switch, starter switch, and carburetter control. We suggest Messrs Smith & Son (M.A.) because we believe that the speedometer must be an A.{Mr Adams} T., and they are the A.{Mr Adams} T. Speedometer Co. The K.{Mr Kilner} S. petrol gauge is bought by Smith's. It is the single line type without a pump, and is to be seen working efficiently on a number of relatively cheap cars. It is also used by RRAL. on P.1. We are testing it at Derby and believe that it will be found to overcome most of the complaints. We will of course look into the Humber electric device. With the arrangement of instruments as shewn the R.{Sir Henry Royce} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} and L. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} cars would have the same dashboard and wiring. The controls on the steering column are of a new design yet to be done. DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} | ||