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).
Life of magneto platinum points and comparing the performance of Watford and Lucas components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 48\2\ Scan465 | |
| Date | 12th February 1927 guessed | |
| X8796 1 Copy to O & KK VID 3 " EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} KK VID 1 Copy to O & EC ECE WC.6. (Mirrored Stamped Text Top Right): INSPECTION DEPT. OF MESSRS. ROLLS-ROYCE Ltd. "VIDE" ENGINE OR DERBY VERIFIED BY FOR CHIEF INSPECTOR OF ENGINES (Signed) RELATING TO THE LIFE OF MAGNETO PLATINUM POINTS. X.8796.X.8793. (Faint mirrored text from reverse): V'T'D' subsection and the completed transaction in accordance with the drawing leaving not less than We do not think there is a magneto in existence whose contact points will last the life of the Rolls-Royce car. Even if this life was 30,000 miles this would hardly be the case. Our experience of both Watford and Lucas is that after 20,000 miles new contact points would be required to obtain regular firing at all engine speeds. We have had a Lucas magneto fail on test after 17,856 miles due to platinum points having worn down to the steel. Of course, if the quantity of platinum per point were increased (very expensive) one would expect a correspondingly increased life of the points. We are not aware that Messrs. Lucas have done this, or modified their design at all. Re the last paragraph of R4/M23.1.27 therefore we do not consider that the Lucas magneto is any superior to the Watford in the life of the platinum contacts. (The above remarks exclude the use of tungsten which we understand is unsuitable for magneto contacts.) Customer's Order No Date Engine No Time Address EFC {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} /H.E.West. Name of Customer (Mirrored Stamped Text Bottom): ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINE AND SPARES CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION BY V'T'D' CERTIFICATE OF | ||