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).
Radiator temperature control options for winter, considering blanking plates and alternative shutter designs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 78\1\ scan0154 | |
| Date | 28th May 1919 | |
| -2- Bn{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}5/P28.5.19. In addition to these points we have to remember that it is our intention to ask customers to have cars which are not fitted with shutters, to fit, or have fitted temporary blanking plates to the radiator of suitable size for winter work. The thermometer will be most useful in determining the proper size of the blanking plates, or the number of standard blanking plates necessary to satisfy each customers particular requirements for the conditions under which he is used to running his car. You will see from this that I would persuade you to the fitting of thermometers, and apart from the fact [strikethrough] fitting [handwritten] of louvres. The fitting of louvres to the outside of the radiator you rule against definately. May we however complete one set for your inspection, in order that the most important and desirable effect on the running of the engine may not be abandoned on those chassis we are turning out at present, without you having the opportunity of seeing definately the effect of this on the appearance of the car. Your instructions will of course, press us to arrive at some other means of achieving this result, but it is only just possible that we shall succeed. There are two alternatives, one is to still use external shutters but of a type in which the shutter would be as inconspicuous as possible, and therefore necessarily of the roll top desk variety, and the other, a very thin blind or series of shutters at the back, for which at the moment there does not appear to be room. The first alternative I believe could be carried out in such a manner that the only effect on appearance would be that a different kind of blackness Cont. [handwritten] | ||