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).
Complaint case from Mr. Geoffrey Duveen regarding the cooling system and thermostatically controlled shutters on chassis 56-GX.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\3\ Scan355 | |
| Date | 1st February 1932 | |
| Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}... from H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Complaint case. H1/H1.2.32. RE: GEOFFREY DUVEEN, ESQ., Chassis No. 56-GX. ----------------------- You will remember that Mr. Duveen - and indeed, his wife - are experienced and enthusiastic owners of our successive models of 40/50 h.p. cars. Both are experienced drivers and intelligent critics. Mr. Duveen has called and seen me this morning and the reason for his call was a strong criticism of the thermostatically controlled shutters on the above car. These he has had fitted together with other recent improvements by us at W. at his own expense. His complaint of the cooling system now is that however satisfactory it may be going to prove to be in summer weather, it is useless for the wintertime in this country. Under no circumstances can he get his engine temperature up to 70° - 60-65 is more normal. His experience, and he well knows it is ours too, is that a better engine temperature is in the neighbourhood of 80-85°. If he uses the car, as he does, to go and play golf, accompanied by his son on his Humber Snipe, he finds that at the end of a round, - say of 2 1/2 hours, the temperature of the RR. has fallen to some temperature below 50° and not ascertainable from the thermometer, whereas the temperature of the comparatively cheap Humber would probably be about 60-65°. He has to resort to his starter carburetter and the Humber will start on its ordinary throttle. He objects to this. He mentioned that many quite cheap American cars have a means of adjusting the thermostat, making the action suitable for lower winter temperatures and wanted to know if there was an adjustment that he could make or we could make for him on the Rolls-Royce which would give him the same advantage. He regrets the fact that when stopping the car the natural law causes the hot water to rise and for a time further opens his shutters. Also that the thermostat does not appear to entirely close his shutters later on when the water cools. It is in fact rather obvious that he regrets that the thermostatically controlled shutters no longer leave him the great advantage that he lost when we gave up the hand control, - namely, the ability to shut his shutters while the engine is hot and keep it hot. Mr. Duveen attaches very great importance to this matter and I promised to bring his complaint before you. Also that I would communicate with W. and ascertain from them what could be done in the matter. I am not quite sure to whom at W. my enquiries should be made but in view of the importance of the matter I attach two copies in the hope that you may like to take up this with Wer. H | ||