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).
Alterations to the high-tension distributor rotor to economise on platinum.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\D\October1919\ Scan8 | |
| Date | 1st October 1919 | |
| To EFC. from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Copy to CJ. " " BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} " " EH. " " DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} ORIGINAL. RE HIGH TENSION DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR. X 800 X.1818 [handwritten and struck through] Referring to the proposed alteration to economise the platinum on the high tension distributor rotor, Mr. Royce has inspected the sample brought by Mr. Barrington, and thinks that the pieces of copper wire and platinum wire have been soldered into position. He does not consider this satisfactory, as the soldering of platinum contacts has given trouble in the past. Mr. Royce further suggests that the alteration is not sufficiently thorough, and suggests [struck through] that we might use another material in place of platinum entirely on the ignition apparatus, such as tantalum, tungsten or pure nickel, which are understood to be possible materials. We have written to Mr. Olley even date, to find out the nature of the hard metal contacts used on the make and break mechanisms of Remy and Delco ignitions. In place of the present round wire contacts, Mr. Royce thinks flat pieces of the chosen material should be secured into saw-cuts by small rivets passing right through the contact pieces and their holders, so as to form a good job, both mechanically and electrically. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||