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).
Mr. Royce's preference for a black egg-shell finish on instruments and controls.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 38\6\ Scan176 | |
| Date | 1st May 1919 | |
| Extract from E6/G1.5.19. X.3424. (5) FINISH OF INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS. For instrument dials Mr. Royce prefers the white letters on the black ground, and approves of the Weston standard black dials with silver letters and numbers. The metal work of the instruments should be a black finish with egg shell surface, similar to the Weston instruments. All of the instruments, including the Elliott speedometer, should be the same in this respect. Experiments have been in hand in Derby with a view to determining the best means of obtaining the black egg-shell finish; three methods are suggested, all of which Mr. Royce thinks may be required to deal with the variations of materials of the parts to be blacked. (1) Finish as on oxydised gun-metal watch cases. (2) Oxydised steel. (3) Sprayed on lacquer. The top work on the steering wheel, that is to say the control parts, should be all black. The principle is that any troublesome reflecting surfaces should be darkened. The spokes of the steering wheel, however, it is thought can be left their natural dull aluminium colour. The aluminium surface will become oxydised and dulled. As time goes on and the control pieces will become worn, the black will get rubbed off in placed. It is thought that this does not matter. | ||