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 and sourcing of a universal instrument panel for various car models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 62\2\ scan0180 | |
| Date | 11th February 1933 | |
| TO [H.R. - Struck through] FROM EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} COPY TO SS.{S. Smith} WOH. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [HDY.{William Hardy}BY/RD. - Struck through] INSTRUMENT BOARDS AND CONTROLS. We have read your E3/HP.7.2.33. re the problems of fitting the over-riding control to the shock-dampers of Phantom 2. and agree that the suggestions you make are the best way of dealing with the immediate situation. We think that in paragraphs 2 & 5. the word speedometer should read main switch box. As mentioned to you when the writer was at Derby, and in subsequent memos we are looking forward to a general revision of the design of the instrument boards and controls so that there will be a central patch which shall be common to all cars including the Bensport. As Sales wish to fit a different speedometer to different types of car due to customer's demands this instrument will be on its own outside the patch. In the case of Sporting Cars such as Bentley and the Continental Touring P2. it will be joined by a tachometer, and a sample of such a patch consisting of the two instruments can be seen on the first Bensport. You told us that you would design the central universal patch and send it to us for comments if any. Since there is no speedometer in it you cannot use the large clock. We have discussed the whole of this matter with Messrs Smith and Sons and are able to send to you a print of their 52 1/2 m/m clock which we think you will be able to use. At the moment they are buy this clock from abroad but in a few weeks time they will be producing in this country. We have asked Messrs Jaeger to send you the second combined speedo and tacho. patch as produced for the next Bensport. This will have to go back to them later as it is geared to suit the central lever gearbox, but we send it to you as we think that the glass edge illumination is very good and wish you to see it. Also we suggest that Derby should produce a design for this patch at the same time as doing the central one, so that we buy only the instruments from outside. We are quite willing to do this work down here as we normally do but we understand that you have a design in hand and we do not wish to over-lap. However this job has been hanging about a long while and we are anxious that we shall get it squared up in the next week or so in order that the next Bensport may have the final instrument board. If therefore you cannot deal with it, please send us a provisional sketch of the new main switch, and starter switch, and we will go ahead. EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||