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).
Manufacture of high-quality electrical accessories, such as windscreen wipers and horns, in-house versus adopting German-made Bosch products.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 64\3\ scan0301 | |
| Date | 1st March 1929 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} FROM Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to MOT.D.H.E. EFC.H.R. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X7550 Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}12/El.3.29 Re Accessories of Highest Quality. X.4478 Thanks for R4/M23.2.29. I certainly think it would be a good idea for our people to investigate the possibility of our manufacturing certain electrical accessories either from our own designs or under license. I have been rather concerned about this matter recently because I have seen reports going through indicating that the Bosch windscreen wiper was the only one that was really any good, and I felt that it would be lamentable - (and expressed this view to all concerned) if we, the leading motor car manufacturers, had to adopt a standard electrical windscreen wiper of German manufacture, and I said that, before we did so, I thought we ought at least to be able to give sound criticisms of the Lucas wiper to Mr.Oliver Lucas personally and at least give him a chance of producing electrical wipers to our satisfaction. For the same reason I think it would be lamentable if we had to adopt the Bosch horn for use on our cars. Personally I fear with you our ability to consume a sufficient number to enable us to produce them at a reasonable figure, but I do believe that by working in close contact with the manufacturers, in the same way as we have done with the speedometer people etc., we could get articles to meet our requirements. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||