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).
Comparison of Waltham and Elliott speedometers, recommending the Waltham for its reliability and silence despite its moving-dial design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 36\1\ scan 081 | |
| Date | 18th July 1921 | |
| G.R. 250a (100 T) (S. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 708. 10-12-20) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 2047 x2915 W/S C. from HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG18.7.21. x2915 x613 RE. SPEEDOMETERS. With reference to your letter Bs{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager}8/HW15.7.21. We have certainly found the Waltham Speedometer more reliable than the Elliott. The advantages we have found in the Waltham are:- 1. Absolute silence in operation. 2. Reliability. The only point we have against the Waltham is the fact that it is a moving-dial type instead of the moving-hand. This makes it rather more difficult to read - with a moving-hand type of instrument one has only to glance at the position of the hand to know at what speed the car is travelling. With the moving-dial type of instrument it is necessary to read the figures on the dial in order to know the speed. As regards the fitting of the Waltham speedometer on a 40/50 chassis, we would recommend that you get in touch with the Waltham people in London and I am sure they will get out a suitable standard fitting for R-R cars. We believe that Mr. Chichester's car was fitted with a Waltham Speedometer sometime ago. You might obtain particulars from him as to how this speedometer behaves on his car. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||