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 changes for bonnets and radiators, focusing on aesthetics and practicality.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\Q\April1927-June1927\ 41 | |
| Date | 29th April 1927 | |
| TO HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} C to RL, BY, OY, WOR{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}, DAC re. BONNETS & RADIATORS. X8250 X8260 It is understood that we are looking forward to using the smaller tubed radiator on both chassis. This has the advantage of making a radiator which looks a little thinner in its construction, and therefore proportionately increases the lengthy appearance of the bonnet. The radiator louvres will in all cases be integral and vertical, and the numberplate should never be fitted above the cross tube so as to mask the radiator, as in the case of 10-EX. Even if it makes no difference to the cooling of the radiator it dwarfs the vertical height, which height adds to the dignity of the appearance. At the moment we can only increase the depth of the radiator below the top of the frame, as we cannot make it any higher because it interferes with the view when driving. It will be remembered that our radiators in case of leakage are easy to repair temporarily and permanently, whereas those made of crinkly tubes, and most other forms of construction, are very difficult in each case. Regarding the bonnets it will be remembered that we have agreed that the bonnet shutters had better be cancelled as they only make a small difference in the cooling value of the radiator, and they are not opened by users, so that we shall in future only be supplying bonnets with louvres for hot climates, or plain bonnets, the latter for ordinary standard. This, together with the reduction in the radiator thickness, should improve the appearance over the thick radiator, and bonnet surface cut up by fitting bonnet shutters. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||