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).
Discussion with Mr. Royce regarding the necessity and choice of a magneto ignition system for the Goshawk engine.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\J\February1923\ Scan60 | |
| Date | 23th February 1923 | |
| To BJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG23.2.23. X 3551 GOSHAWK 11. MAGNETO IGNITION. Mr. Royce did not express himself clearly why he thought a new magneto was necessary instead of using the Watford E.O.6. As a matter of fact, on the question of weight, the E.O.6. is no heavier than the small Bosch, owing to the greater use of aluminium instead of bronze on the Watford E.O.6. When we were discussing the magneto with Mr. Royce, I had at W.W. a 20 HP. car fitted with a Scintilla magneto which had an automatic advance. This magneto functioned perfectly. The automatic advance control of the ignition was equally as good as we get on the battery and the running of the car was equal in every way, if not better than on the battery. This magneto is quieter than the E.O.6. R.{Sir Henry Royce} criticised it from the point of view, that it looked too big and clumsy for the Goshawk and it was then he expressed a view that he thought we could use quite a small magneto on the Goshawk. We protested that with a small magneto we should not get good slow running, neither should we get sufficient range on the ignition control to enable the engine to run properly. R.{Sir Henry Royce} was of the opinion that the magneto ignition should be looked upon as something to get you home and it was not necessary for it to run the engine slowly or to be able to obtain full power with it. At the time, we stated that we thought it was wrong to fit on to the cars a magneto contd:- | ||