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).
Ongoing magneto faults from supplier Messrs Norths and recommendations for redesign for the New Phantom engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 48\2\ Scan313 | |
| Date | 31th August 1925 | |
| - 3 - BY15/H. 31.8.25. ---------------- therefore it would appear there is no reasonable ground for continuing to return magnetos to Messrs Norths to have this fault merely temporarily corrected. Since Messrs Norths have now, at our instigation, set to work seriously to overcome the trouble on right lines, I do not see any advantage to be gained by attempting to camouflage the trouble which must exist under present conditions, and which camouflage is an expensive business both to ourselves and Messrs Norths, and I would recommend that we should face this difficulty and inform Sales that in order to make a real improvement on magnetos, a redesign is necessary, and that in our opinion it is not wise to spend time and money to get an obviously temporary benefit, and at the same time, in insisting upon it, to delay the manufacturers on a really sound proposal. 5. I wish to make it plain that Messrs Norths magneto has not deteriorated in this respect, but that beyond a question the present position has been arrived at by the big improvement in regard to silence between the old Silver Ghost and the New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I engine, and has been accentuated by the further improvements which Messrs Norths have made to the gear, and to the make and break to try and bring their magneto up to standard suitable for the New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I engine I have put the facts of the case as we see them before you so that if necessary a discussion can be arranged of the responsible people, and the proposals put forward as it may be they are of the opinion we should still insist upon Messrs Norths giving us magnetos which will be quiet at least whilst cars are despatched, although to my mind such a position only appears to be beating air, as in a very short time, possibly less than 500 miles, the magneto trouble would be as bad as before, therefore in my opinion it is better to face this trouble, admit of its existence, pointing out that Messrs Norths are seriously tackling it, and ask that Sales should accept chassis, which, whilst not possibly to our standard in regard to this feature, are satisfactory in all other features. BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} [Handwritten signature: By] [Upside-down circular stamp in bottom left corner with 'RECEIVED' visible] | ||