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).
Failure of a 'Conner' magneto contact breaker lever during endurance testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 48\3\ Scan078 | |
| Date | 4th February 1921 | |
| To Wd. {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} from EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} c. Wd {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} /Ms. X.4210 EFCl/T4.2.21. X.4210 - "CONNER" MAGNETO. We have got a certain way with our bench tests of the "Conner" magneto, but have found the contact breaker lever unsatisfactory. It appears to be too soft and on our short (12 hour) endurance test became bent so as to allow the platinum gap to widen. As I was not available at the time, my assistant instead of waiting to see me about this, bent the lever back and carried on. I think, however, we should return this contact breaker complete to the Conner Magneto Company and ask for another, as a failure of this nature may be only one in a hundred. On the other hand, it is no use continuing to carry out any tests with the present contact breaker. Perhaps you would kindly arrange to obtain another contact breaker from the Conner Company. EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} | ||