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).
Responding to a query on electrical troubles, specifically with Magneto and Battery Ignition points on various car models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 48\2\ Scan467 | |
| Date | 14th February 1927 | |
| 4 To EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} from Hm {Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} /NRC. {N. R. Chandler} X8796 NRC {N. R. Chandler} 7/EW14.2.27. In reply to your query re Electrical troubles - (1). Magneto Platinum Points. X8796 With regard to the E.O.6 Magnetos fitted to all post-war 40/50HP. cars, these are very little trouble indeed, and on overhauls we find that only one out of every 5 or 6 requires replacement, and this covers cars which have been running for as much as 7 years. It is difficult to give mileages in a case of this sort since we do not keep exact records of Platinum Points, but we think there are several cases of over 100,000 miles in which we have no record of the points previously having been replaced, although, whether or not the owner may have replaced them, we do not know. From a point of view of platinum points, we can say that the E.O.6 'Watford' is no more troublesome than the pre-war 'Bosch'. With regard to platinum points on the R.O.1, we have no record at all of any length of service for this make, because the battery ignition on the 20 is almost invariably used, but we cannot recall a case of failure of the platinum point on the R.O.1. Magneto. Against this, however, we have a good many cases of the make and break becoming so weak that it is extremely difficult to start the engine on it, while the slow running is very poor. (2). Battery Ignition Points. X4652 X8680 X5680 We know that these are a great source of trouble on 20's. Phantoms and late Silver Ghosts, and we are sure we need not here enlarge on this trouble, as you are familiar with it. Strange to say, the original post-war Silver Ghost having the non-trembler coil but the pre-war type of make and break with very massive platinums does not give anything like so much trouble. In fact they could be regarded as satisfactory. contd. | ||