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).
Secret internal memo discussing the design and placement of the reserve petrol tap control on the Japan III and Continental Phantom models.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\2\ scan0057 | |
Date | 23th March 1931 | |
SECRET. +5460. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} BY/Sgn. re Reserve Petrol and Petrol Supply on Japan III. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}17/E23.3.31 Referring to R1/M17.3.31 in view of my recent correspondence with E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} as per E8/M.12.2.31 and Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}4/E16.2.31 I expect you will be wondering why R.{Sir Henry Royce} has been troubled about this matter as per his memo. quoted above. The following is really the position - that on the Continental short wheelbase model the layout of the body and trunk in relation to the frame is such that the trunk comes immediately on top of the reserve petrol tap. In order to enable us to deal with this WW prepared a scheme bringing the control of the tap out to the side as per N.Sch.2774. I then heard that this could not be worked to because R.{Sir Henry Royce} had said that he did not wish us to make use of a remote control and that he wished the mechanics driver to remove the cases and operate the knob through a hole in the bottom of the outer case. I, therefore, wrote to him and said that this was an absurd position which could not possibly be tolerated on a £3000 motor-car, and I took the opportunity of saying that on Japan III we must not rest content with the tap for the petrol reserve being at the back of the car at all. It must be possible to operate it from the driver's seat. R's memo. makes it clear to me that he approves of the control at the side for the Continental Phantom's as per the N.Sch. referred to above and that he also agrees in principle to a dashboard tap control on Japan III. I should be glad, therefore, if you would advise Derby immediately that they can use the side control scheme for Continental Phantom's as Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} is in great difficulty with different customers to know what to do. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||