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).
Inter-organization letter from Cadillac discussing car antennas and ignition suppressors.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 58\2\ Scan153 | |
| Date | 17th September 1934 | |
| R 1812 C. CADILLAC MOTOR CAR COMPANY INTER-ORGANIZATION LETTERS ONLY TO Mr. Olley WST DATE September 17, 1934 ADDRESS FROM ADDRESS SUBJECT Please answer Mr. Robotham as follows: Our antenna is a piece of common window screen or wire cloth assembled in the roof of car, under the top material. We use as large a piece as possible, actual size depending on type of body, and keep the edge of screen at least six inches away from any sheet metal portions of the roof. To date we have found nothing better than ordinary screen wire in the car top. In regard to suppressors: We have had no trouble with these in regard to ignition performance except in some rare cases on demonstrators where an attempt was being made to idle the car to the very minimum speed and then suddenly attempt to demonstrate acceleration. Top speed, gas economy are not affected and, in the average case where suppressions are blamed it is usually a matter of spark plug gap being too wide. It is common practice to slightly close gaps over standard setting when suppressors are supplied in order to secure smooth idling. Our troubles have been more mechanical than electrical, mainly breakage and suppressors touching some nearby metal and grounding plug due to suppressor not being securely fastened. On V-12 and V-16's we do not, as a rule, use suppressors because closeness of metal parts that suppressors might touch. On these cars we use a spark plug with radio suppressor unit built in the plug porcelain. On many V-12 and V-16's we find very satisfactory reception is obtained without suppressor equipment of any kind being used. This is due, no doubt, to the shielding effect of the ignition wire conduit and the engine cover between the cylinders. If Mr. Robotham is not too busy on other matters I would appreciate his telling something of the various stations he is able to receive, their location, distance, etc. My best record for night reception in Detroit is a station in Mexico fully 2000 miles away. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} K.{Mr Kilner} Schadt, Electrical Engineer a | ||