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).
Advantages of double battery ignition over a battery and magneto system for car engines.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\2\ Scan282 | |
| Date | 3rd July 1933 | |
| To WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} re Minutes of Conference at Derby re car work on June 9th - Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer}1/R.12.6.33 and memo C.16/C.22.6.33. Replying to your memo WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}2/T.26.6.33, we hold the view that double battery ignition is infinitely better than battery and magneto where two ignitions are fitted. Synchronizing is made possible and if one ignition breaks down and the battery is low or a cell gone, the engine can be started by hand, which is not the case with the magneto. In the case of single ignition with standby magneto and common distributor as on the 20/25 the only breakdown not covered by fitting a spare coil instead of the magneto, is failure of the make and break, and any duplication of this is largely unnecessary, except as regards spares. Our experience is that the standby magneto on the 20/25 is often not understood and not made use of. The whole layout of an engine is spoilt by including a magneto, and such inclusion will be out of the question on the SpectreCodename for Phantom III, our future big engine. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||