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).
Selection of screen wipers, comparing German Bosch wipers with British Lucas alternatives.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 23\3\ Scan141 | |
| Date | 22th January 1929 | |
| S/W Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} (Copy to C.) " " PN.{Mr Northey} " " Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} " " De(Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}) Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} X1087 Sgl/M/22.1.1929. Re: Screen Wipers. In Rl/M10.1.29. he says :- "Screen Wipers. For a long time I have only considered the electric one, being more even in speed, etc., than other types. Here again the Robert Bosch seem the best available. I know of the German difficulty but we must have the best". It would, I think, be very lamentable if we, as the leading British Car Manufacturers, had to adopt a German Windscreen Wiper, and we ought to make every effort to render this unnecessary if only from a national point of view. I find we have supplied three Lucas Windscreen Wipers - one to you, one to PN.{Mr Northey} and one to Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} PN{Mr Northey}'s report appears to be favourable, as per the following :- "The Lucas windscreen wipers have certain good points; they are small, they do not make an unreasonable amount of noise. I find the stroke is not as large as it might be, but I would sooner have these fitted than any Smiths, and I am preparing to have a pair fitted immediately to 2.CL. Trials Saloon". We cannot trace having received any report from you or Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} in regard to the samples supplied, and I should very much like to have these as soon as possible, because if we are dissatisfied with them, then I think I ought to put the matter up to Mr. Oliver Lucas personally, from the point of view that we have thoroughly tested a Lucas Windscreen Wiper but find it less satisfactory than the German one, etc., etc., - i.e. give them every opportunity of making their standard one satisfactory, or making a special one for us so that we can utilise a British instrument on our cars, which I think all will agree is highly desirable. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||