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).
Fitting of louvred bonnets, referencing Mr Royce's aesthetic and noise objections, and comparing test results to shuttered bonnets.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 119\3\ scan0042 | |
| Date | 29th June 1914 | |
| Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/Mcr10/L29614. Re Louvred Bonnets. X.55 Mr Plumpton, 29-6-14. In reply to your memo Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}12/O 26614 re the suggestion of fitting a louvred Bonnet to Mr Humphrey Roberts' car 2408, we wish to explain the position as follows. It is quite true as Mr Johnson suggests that Mr Royce has objected to louvres in the bonnet, he states that they look ugly and let out noise; he recommends in place of them, shutters in the bonnet. On another occasion Mr Royce said :- "My impression is that louvres "should not be fitted to English "cars but only to those for very "hot climates". We have tested both louvred and shuttered Bonnets and both schemes have been reported on favourably, as they appear to have a distinct advantage as regards water temperature and also the temperature of the floorboards. Mr Hives made a comparative test of louvred Bonnets and plain Bonnets, and the tests showed that the shuttered bonnet | ||