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).
Optimal placement and storage of road tools in car bodies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 102\2\ scan0149 | |
| Date | 8th August 1934 | |
| 45830 Rms TO:- L.R...........from EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} (For circulation of C.C.C.) Copy to Mr. ....... Mr. ....... J.E.N.......(series). RV1/1H.8.8.34. Re:- TOOLS. Then the road tools were carried under the bonnet we had an arrangement which was applicable to all cars no matter what the type of body might be. We had gone a long way to educate the Coachbuilder in the matter of design and making suitable fittings. This arrangement was abandoned because the tools became slightly greasy and dirty after a time. To a large extent we are now back in the state of chaos in which we found ourselves before we had a standard position. In cars having a boot at the back the tools can be housed somewhere inside, although no standard arrangement is possible. The worst case of all is that of a car having sliding front seats and no boot at the back. Into this category falls the Standard Park Ward 25 H.P. 4-Door Saloon. We notice that in this case tool boxes are provided in the kickplate below the door sill. Apart from the fact that it is a very difficult job to get the tools out, we have a very strong objection to this scheme, as it necessitates the bottomside of the body having a large hole cut into it, thereby reducing its strength and rigidity. We have succeeded to a very great extent in persuading our leading Coachbuilders to utilize the vertical edge plate construction for the body bottomside, so increasing the body strength and rigidity, and, at the same time, reducing its weight. Such a construction has been used on our experimental cars for a number of years. We feel that it is quite wrong that such a thing as a tool box should be allowed to destroy the strength of the structure of the body and suggest that this position for the tools should be discontinued, and that failing any other home being found for them, they would have to go under the bonnet. Whilst the disadvantage of heat and grease experienced when the tools are under the bonnet is fully appreciated, we wonder whether it is as great as the disadvantages experienced when we leave the Coach-builder to house the tools in various positions and by various methods, to the body design. A standard position for the road tools, applicable to all cars no matter what the coachwork, is a | ||