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).
Proposal to add a second dashboard to improve isolation from noise and to reduce under-bonnet temperature.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\4\ Scan164 | |
| Date | 18th January 1928 | |
| Whr.{Mr Wheeler} London. X4613 C. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Derby. E.P. Derby. G.W.P. London. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} Derby. Re Dashboard Isolation and temperature and air pressure under bonnet. If we duplicated our dashboard, erecting a second one about, say, three quarters of an inch astern of the present one, I think we might be able to cut out a good deal of the trouble we are having with dashboard isolation, creaks and groans, and moreover provide a means of more easily getting rid of hot air under the bonnet. The present dashboard could have its supports carried forward under the bonnet instead of rearward as at present, and would still continue to carry those fittings now attached to it on its forward face, that is under the bonnet. All the controls now attached to the rear face of the present dashboard would be attached to the rear face of the suggested second dashboard and would pass through dashboard No. 1 with very large clearance holes. The rear dashboard could be provided with a fillet to which the scuttle sheeting could be attached, thus cutting out the necessity for heavy timbers at this point, and the dashboard etc. could be supported either by brackets similar to the present dashboard, running rearward, or by a smaller bracket similar to that used under the bonnet on the front bottom edges, or articulated to the present dashboard with a certain amount of freedom allowed for distortion, or be supported by two sturdy members connecting with a light cross member over the gear-box, these two members being designed at the right angle to support the floor board. If these latter members were attached to a cross member in this manner they would remove some of the difficulties now obtaining in getting sufficient area on the chassis side members the base of the scuttle (the fault pointed out in my memo. Pt.7/FM-18-1-28) This would permit of dashboard No. 2 being erected without any connection whatever with dashboard No. 1. The idea may not appeal to you in the slightest but I am merely forwarding the suggestion for what it is worth, but I do feel that to suit Australian road conditions it might be worth while dividing the car into three parts each insulated from the other as follows:-- Radiator, bonnet and dashboard No. 1 forming one unit and dashboard No. 2 and scuttle forming the second unit, the bottom sides and panels of the car being cut through approximately in the centre of the front door gaps where a | ||