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).
Letter discussing the danger of reflections in windscreens and side windows, suggesting an investigation into coachwork design to mitigate the issue.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 71\1\ scan0438 | |
| Date | 25th May 1928 | |
| Whr.{Mr Wheeler} London. X393 Pt.2/FH-25/5/28. C. to L.H.S.{Lord Herbert Scott - Chair} London, Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Derby. I have lately been driving a "Morris-Cowley" saloon and have never before realised how extremely difficult driving can be made by reflections in windscreen and side windows, and not merely reflections but reflections of reflections. This is particularly noticeable at night time when one becomes conscious of light approaching in one of the side windows and imagines that there is a vehicle when closer inspection proves this to be merely a reflection. Perhaps on the next occasion one takes it for granted that it is a reflection when it actually turns out to be a vehicle. It could easily be imagined that this may be a serious source of danger and accident. It seems to me that this question of reflections in windows and windscreen is an extremely interesting one and well worth investigation by those interested in coachwork design, especially those who have the necessary finance to conduct experiments. Perhaps the slightest alteration in the angle of the sheets of the glass to both the vertical and the horizontal would cure the whole trouble. I do not think there should be any two sheets of glass in a properly constructed body which are exactly parallel to one another or at 90° to one another, but as I am not an expert in reflection or refraction I am not in a position to do more than merely suggest investigation of the whole question. this I shall be very glad if you will put/forward to those interested and let me know in due course anything you are able to obtain in the way of information in regard to same. The trouble in my car is particularly marked when rounding corners when one seems to be surrounded by a procession of moving objects in side windows and windscreens. By the way, what is Purdah glass exactly? Pt. [Signature] | ||