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).
Continued memo discussing a defective distributor and comparing the cost of a Bosch ignition system with their own coil.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\F\February1921\ Scan42 | |
| Date | 1st February 1921 | |
| To H.S. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} -2- Rll/G16/2/21 Contd. however, that it is the best quality of bakerlite. DISTRIBUTOR. Regarding the distributor, this appears to be distinctly defective, although simple to look at. There is a jump spark, X 800 and yet no ventilation, and the metal of the stationary pieces being brass, would not stand the nitric acid generated. There is no precaution taken in this distributor to prevent the backfire before mentioned. GENERAL. We are pleased to see, however, that the style of work- manship, and manufacture is not of the cheap and nasty order so prevalent in American automobile construction. Regarding the cost, it would be hopeless for us to make the difference in the cost by altering the design between our coil and the whole of the Bosch equipment. It would be as well to lay these two out side-by-side, and ascertain the difference in cost (if you like, by the criticisms of the Works Committee, but preferably by someone like Mr. Wormald) whether under equal manufacturing conditions, there should be such a discrepancy of cost between the complete Bosch electrical ignition system at £3.17.6 and our coil at £4.10.0. The experts would say whether it is a question of - (1) Design (2) Manufacturing conditions, (3) Accountancy (4) Establishment charges, (5) or the rate of wages in England. As I have before remarked, it is absolutely necessary for us to get hold of a reasonably inexpensive source of mouldings of bakerlite, and ebonite, otherwise we cannot hope ever to be capable of manufacturing at a reasonable rate. My advice is (Contd.) | ||