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).
New Smith instrument board for the 20/25 HP chassis, including cost comparisons.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179\2\ img156 | |
| Date | 2nd January 1932 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. C. Eg. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} De. C. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Roy.{Sir Henry Royce} ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst.1/ADL2.1.32. X6135 20/25 INSTRUMENT BOARD Further to our report ref. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst.1/ADL.11.31 dealing with Messrs. Smith's proposed instrument board for our 20/25 HP. chassis, we have now received from them a complete patch fitted with Smith instruments throughout with the exception of the A.T. speedometer, which, however, is under their business control. The instruments comprise A.T. speedometer, Smith clock, ammeter (moving iron), electric petrol gauge, oil pressure gauge and thermometer. The finish of the dials on the instruments sent along was the Smith standard black enamelled dial with the figures printed in a white silvery paint. When viewed in the dark, internally illuminated, the dials showed up effectively and little difference was observed as compared with our standard photographic Cambridge dials. Finishing off instruments with dials of the Cambridge type is an expensive procedure and it is difficult to get a dead black matt surface. The red warning light operated by contacts inside the thermometer has been deleted and this has considerably helped in price reduction. Now that we have thermostatically controlled radiator shutters, this warning lamp becomes superfluous. No name at all, either our own monogram or the Smith trademark, will be shown and the whole instrument board will appear a very plain but dignified Rolls-Royce job. TG. has seen the sample patch and has expressed his approval of the scheme. We give below the price of this instrument board as compared with our present standard arrangement :- Total cost of instruments :- Present type ........ £14. 8. 6. Smith .............. £8. 7. 6. Cost of patch :- Present type ........ £3. 7. 9. Smith .............. £1. 7. 6. with an initial tool charge of £240. | ||