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 placement of controls on the steering column for various car models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\4\ Scan039 | |
| Date | 15th July 1972 | |
| HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} x7240 85240. O4073 V453. To EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} from Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re Controls on Steering Columns. Copy to Mr. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Ph. Cr.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}16/EGS.7.72 Referring to EVS/14.7.72 and various other memos. recently received, I confirm the arrangement which we came to yesterday at H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} For RR cars, we will adopt the controls based on Peregrine and J.III but with the following modifications: The mixture control to take the form of a small pointed lever on the lines of that now used, and thereby retain a RR characteristic feature. The dipping control to have no spring or teeth, to have a very much smaller movement than at present and to be much more on the lines of that I call a "flick" lever, which doubtless you and others have seen on other makes of cars. The lever, or whatever you call the piece one moves with one's fingers, should, I think, have a different shape from the throttle and ignition control levers - something which is more easily "flickable" than the present one. For Bonsport, we would have the controls on the lines of your plasticene model but of course with chromium plated knobs as on former Bentley cars. I forget whether this provided for a dimming and dipping switch but it should do so. Reverting to the question of the RR controls, I am making enquiries to find out whether the general feeling here is that at least on P.II cars we should retain the foot operated dipping switch. If so, presumably there would be no difficulty in leaving off the hand control on the column on this model when the time comes to change over from the present type. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||