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).
Secret memo detailing the design of a universal dashboard for the 'Japan 3' model.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 104\1\ scan0334 | |
Date | 21th March 1931 | |
TO. R.{Sir Henry Royce} FROM DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} COPY TO SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} SECRET 85566 DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}4/21.3.31. UNIVERSAL DASHBOARD. JAPAN 3. We send herewith prints of N. sch. 3248. 3249. & 3256. shewing the dashboard for Japan 3. DASHBOARD. The same dashboard is used on both R.H. & L.H. chassis and is common to all steerings. This will help production as the chassis need not take on a particular steering until late in life, and also, it will be a simple matter to change the column on a chassis or even a stock car. We have adhered to the cast dash as it has advantages and it ought to be possible for us to make it cheaply. It gives us a support on to which we can hang the column whilst the pot enables us to get a bracket well up the column. The pot also enables us to put the distribution box in a central position suitable for both hands of chassis, without preventing the removal of the valve cover and head. As the bonnet passes over the dash the expense of truing it up, now complained of will not be incurred. We have shewn a moulded rubber bonnet strip, which should represent a saving in cost and help to make the bonnet quiet. We feel that the rubber will not eat into the bonnet as the Ferodo now does. WIRING. We have simplified the conduit system as much as possible. We prefer not to cast ducts in the dash to take the wires at least at this stage, as any slight re-arrangement of the dash subsequently would entail a modified pattern. They would also call for machining on the dash which the present scheme does not. PETROL SUPPLY. We shew an Autovac Tank as we understand that the petrol pump may not be available for the first cars. It has a tap at its base which operates the two level device in the rear tank as well as that in the Autovac,-as suggested in your RI/M17.3.31 LUBRICATION PUMP. This is the latest large pump as designed for P.2. BONNET This is carried over the dash 2.000 ins. for the following reasons :- (1) Added length of bonnet makes possible added length of dash which in turn allows us to get the steering in without handling the engine for L.H. Drive Cars. (2) Dignity of appearance. (3) It gives a neat and inobscure joint between the bonnet and the scuttle. DASHBOARD FEET. On N.Sch. 3248 we shew a simple single bolt | ||