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).
Optimal positioning of direction indicators on cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 166\6\ img029 | |
| Date | 20th September 1937 | |
| W 6073. .RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC{R. Childs} By at W. copy to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wst. C1/GW.20.9.37. Have discussed this with F.J.H. relative to Column - See him. DIRECTION INDICATORS. As you know, these are practically universal on Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. Aim They are usually controlled by means of a time switch mounted by the Coachbuilder in some more or less convenient position. We have found the best position to be the centre of the back edge of the scuttle where they may be operated without removing the hands from the steering wheel. But the difficulties in the way of fitting them here have grown. In the first place, as you know, the screen wiper driving shaft is housed in the finisher which covers the back end of the scuttle, and now it is becoming increasingly common to employ a locking device for the screen which necessitates the mounting of a winding gear at the centre of the back edge of the scuttle. This modified screen control has valuable advantages and we want to encourage its use where practicable. But it means that the direction indicator switch can no longer be mounted in its old position, but it is to be transferred elsewhere. A suitable alternative position is in some ways the extreme offside of the back edge of the scuttle, but here it is not always very accessible. So we would like to find an alternative. It has been suggested that the best position for the indicator control is at the top of the steering column with the other controls. This position, as you know, is employed on many other cars today. Usually it is used in conjunction with the Lucas scheme with which, as you know, the direction indicator, after being raised by means of a trigger, is restored to the "off" position as the steering wheel is straightened up. | ||