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).
The continual failure of electric clocks, its causes, and a proposal to revert to reliable hand-wound clocks.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 164\1\ img190 | |
| Date | 26th May 1938 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Der. R.C. 6026 BY.1/B.26.5.38. ELECTRIC CLOCKS. Owing to the continual failure of electric clocks and our investigation as to the cause, we find that the majority of failures are due to :- (a) Fuse trouble, the fuses being a necessary feature of the electric clock, and the type of fuse necessary being very delicate mechanism to produce. (b) The 'carry-over' device, to ensure that the clock does not stop the moment the battery is disconnected. We are of the opinion that this feature is not really necessary and 9 months ago, made arrangements for this to be deleted. Even so, with the 'carry-over' device deleted, we feel that we cannot recommend the continued use of the electric clock in its present design. Samples are already available of the new 'impulse' type of clock, but it will be some considerable time before the development of this is completed, and in the meantime, we suggest that we return to a reliable hand wound clock. Messrs. Smith and Sons, are making up a small quantity of these to meet the demands of customers who prefer a reliable hand wound clock in lieu of the electric. We feel sure that we shall reduce the complaints of faulty clocks by 80% by the deletion of the electric clock. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||