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).
Correspondence page from 'The Motor' magazine, featuring letters from readers on various subjects.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0180 | |
| Date | 5th February 1941 | |
| February 5, 1941. 19 The Motor Letters intended for publication must be written on one side of the paper only and should be as short as possible. They may be signed with a nom de plume, except names of cars and proprietary articles; the name and address of the sender must be enclosed as a guarantee of good faith. No responsibility is taken for views expressed by the writers. Address: "The Motor," Bowling Green Lane, London, E.C.1. BRITAIN'S "VENICE."—The village of Ospringe, Kent, has earned this title because for some distance a river runs along the main road. It is fed by an underground stream which rises 2½ miles away. Commendation I WOULD like to congratulate you on continuing to produce such an excellent journal in these very difficult times. Warwick. F.H.T. CORRESPONDENCE Critic from Brazil OWING to delays in the mails I have only just received your issue dated September 18, 1940 [This letter is dated November 23, 1940.—ED.{J. L. Edwards}] and in spite of the long interval which has elapsed I beg leave to comment on a letter from "U.B.I.U.Б." on the subject of what he terms "that absurd and unscientific thing called the metric system." To persons with practical experience of both the metric system and the pre-historic British system of coinage, weights and measures, it appears incredible that anyone could be found in the year 1940 to say a good word for the latter. Your correspondent remarks that "the United States, who, together with ourselves, conduct the biggest business on earth," have not adopted the metric system, which, according to him, is left to the "remaining second-class countries." The United States has a decimal, that is, a metric coinage. Further, the Americans have largely adapted the British to the metric system. For instance, goods are sold at so many dollars and cents per lb., per 100 lb., or per ton of 2,000 lb., not in pounds, shillings, pence, halfpence, or farthings per lb., cwt., or ton of 2,240 lb. It is a vastly different thing to struggle with an invoice of, say, 1 ton 6 cwt. 3 qrs. 4 lb. at 3s. 4d. per lb., than to deal with one of 3,000 lb. at 7 cents per lb. The difference in clerical work alone does not admit dispute. He airily speaks of the "remaining second-class countries," but these are all the countries of Europe, including France, Germany and Italy—hardly second-class countries commercially—the whole of Latin America and Japan. In other words, the whole world outside the British Empire has adopted entirely the metric system, whilst the United States (and Canada, be it noted) have a decimal coinage and have modified, at any rate, the British system of weights. From the point of view of our export trade the sooner we discard our obsolete system the better. ARTHUR B. FREELAND, Secretary, The British Chamber of Commerce in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. British Car Sales in South America IN The Motor, September 4, 1940, appeared the following:—"The car markets in South America, previously supplied by British and German manufacturers, are now being met by supplies of vehicles from U.S." In my opinion that paragraph is misleading, if not incorrect. Germany is, of course, out of the market except in so far as stocks in South America are concerned, but the United Kingdom is continuing to supply this country with all the cars for which exchange can be procured. In spite of the loss of some shipments owing to enemy action, the number of cars coming to Uruguay from England is very little down on the number which came a year ago; there is no doubt that the number could be increased very considerably were more exchange available. Uruguay imported from the U.K., between July 1, 1938, and June 30, 1939, 403 cars and 162 chassis (bus, etc.), and in the corresponding period ended June 30, 1940, 735 cars and 181 chassis. Meanwhile, car imports from the U.S.A. are severely restricted by lack of exchange and the situation is far worse than that of British cars. In the Argentine Republic matters are even worse for U.S.A. cars, as no exchange is being given for their importation at present. Unfortunately the unfavourable exchange rate makes the sale of British cars in that country difficult, but there is a demand and it is being satisfied. W. O.{Mr Oldham} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Ross, Secretary, The British Chamber of Commerce in Uruguay. Montevideo, Uruguay. "Thank God for England" IN your issue of January 15, "Contact" represents, apparently, a type for which neither the public nor his whole ideal seems to be to scorch through life from a garage at one end and a city office at the other. The beauties of England are the spirit of the people through the centuries. It is, therefore, foolish to assert that "none of the arts makes a mass appeal." It is an insult to every man with hollyhocks in his back garden. Such things as the Middle Temple, only one of a thousand gems of London, are beloved of the British people. English domestic architecture is unrivalled and, so far from being old-fashioned, is reverenced everywhere as supreme of its kind. The Middle Temple will certainly be rebuilt exactly as it was before, although perhaps without its original treasures. For instance, the screen of Middle Temple Hall was made from the timbers of the "Golden Hind," the first ship to sail round the world. The millionaires from Buenos Aires and Oklahoma used to say their prayers to it. Perhaps this, in some measure, accounts for the A27 | ||