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).
Design flaw with the junction/distribution box on the 40/50 HP chassis.
| Identifier | Morton\M22\ img061 | |
| Date | 1st June 1920 | |
| To EFC. from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Copy to CI. " " BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} " " HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} " " DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} " " BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} x 1804 ORIGINAL 1 EX 6 E1/G14/6/20. Junction RE DISTRIBUTION BOX - 40/50 H.P. CHASSIS. x 3763b The distribution box lid{A. J. Lidsey} on chassis 1 EX. can be put on in two ways, one of which is right and the other wrong. The lip on the cover is cut away at the one end to clear the Klaxon and battery ignition fuse terminals. When the cover is put on the wrong way up a short occurs and the Klaxon and ignition fuses get blown or partly blown. In the case of 1 EX. this feature was the cause of mysterious troubles, as the Klaxon would work only intermittently, generally cutting in after a journey had been partly accomplished, and finally the battery ignition failed to act. Mr. Royce found the cause of these troubles, and wishes me to say that he is very disappointed that cars have been turned out in this condition, and that we should at once find a remedy. Further, Mr. Royce considers that the distribution box is much too low down, as the operation of the swing bolt at the bottom end of the lid{A. J. Lidsey} is interfered with by the bunch of cables passing across underneath the box. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} - Rather 'lofty'? E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||