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).
To Mr. Johnson regarding coachbuilding, the adoption of electric dynamos and lamps, R.W. wire wheels, and standard ventilators for upcoming chassis.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\1\ scan0050 | |
Date | 29th August 1911 | |
Mr. Johnson. - 2 - The leather used by the foreigner is not such a high quality as ours, although the cloth used by foreign Coachbuilders is generally high class and detail of finish perfect. Taking first class Coach builders in London you will notice that they very rarely if ever manufacture "freak" bodies. This is left to small Coach Builders who hope to make a name or gain an advertisement by so doing. In France this is hardly the case, as I have noticed Firms of high repute turning out "freak" bodies. Before turning on the work done by our special Coachbuilders I should like to touch on one or two points which I think should be carefully gone into at once, if this has not already been done in Derby. First of all I notice a general tendency to replace oil and acetylene side and head lamps by electric, a dynamo has to be fitted as an after-thought to the chassis which very often is little better than a make-shift. I think Derby should carefully study the desirability of fitting a dynamo suitable for our requirements as standard for our chassis, so as to have uniformity throughout - its lamps (electric) can be made of aluminium, the weight of a dynamo etc. cannot be much greater than the present weight of head and side lamps. The advantages of electric lamps in this foggy land have already been demonstrated, but electric lamps are useless if simply run off an accumulator. I have noticed lately several of our cars held up on the road due to punctures - you will say fit "Vinet" rims but surely the 1911-12 R.W wheel is much in advance of any rim, neater to handle and quicker. I see the Daimler Company claim economy in tyres by use of R.W. wire wheels. Have not the old crabs been by now exploded? I should further like to suggest that a standard ventilator be fitted on the dash of all 1912 chassis. If not required it need not be opened, and it is most essential for all enclosed cars. Another small suggestion is to have a number of petrol tins and small oil tins enamelled black, so | ||