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).
Value of air shutters and difficulties with the bonnet handles on various chassis models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M3\M3.6\ img018 | |
| Date | 4th June 1919 | |
| To EH. from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} 'echoing R' Copy to OC. " " BM. " " DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} " " BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} " " EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} " " EFO. ORIGINAL RE BONNETS. X.3421 4.3499 Some experience should now have been obtained with air shutters on the 40/50 H.P. chassis bonnet under varying conditions of temperature etc. Mr. Royce would like to know therefore, if you have any fresh information to give as to their value on the car. The question involved is whether the shutters should be retained on the 40/50 H.P. chassis, and whether they should be incorporated in the bonnets of the 20 H.P. and the new 50 H.P. cars. Referring to the question of the difficulty of opening and shutting the R.R. 40/50 H.P. bonnets, the studs which at present serve as handles for lifting the bonnet are directly opposite to two of the retaining spring blades. There is a third spring blade on the back of the bonnet side, half way between the stud handles. There are two disadvantages attached to this particular arrangement:- (1) The stud handles are too far apart to enable the operator to lift the bonnet with ease, owing to an awkward muscular position. (2) When shutting the bonnet, it is not possible to open all the spring blades by pulling on the stud handles, and it is therefore necessary to exert excessive downward force to spring the middle blade open over the side frame of the bonnet. Each of these disadvantages might be overcome by moving the bonnet clips nearer together and leaving the spring retaining blades where they are. Would you kindly let Mr. Royce have any comments you may have to make on this matter. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||