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).
Design review document discussing the outer frame, switch components, switchbox layout, and lighting.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\7\ Scan187 | |
| Date | 18th February 1933 guessed | |
| (2) With respect to the outer frame which is of the section exactly similar to that which we use, we suggest that this would be improved in appearance if it were very much less wide than on the present patch. We have been unable to reduce this width, but we see that with your design there is not this limitation. This frame can be screwed permanently into the edgewise grain of the wood but we cannot screw the patch into the back of the board as shewn. We prefer to screw on at odd places, generally 2 or 3 in number, clamps which have a leather or rubber face. We believe at the moment these are provided by the coachbuilder to suit the conditions of each particular car. There is a point to be considered in connection with the switch and other hand operated parts, which has not arisen withour scheme, in that it has no hand operated units. At the moment, looking at RR. Sch. 334, we are just a little afraid that the operation of the starter press button, the main switch, and the instrument board switch, would eventually result in the paint being worn off the mount by the ends of the fingers. This one sees happening on cars having a similar scheme. In that respect the black bakelite mount is a distinct advantage. Another point which occurs to us is that on our design the whole of the live connections on the back of the board were protected against being shorted by spanners or screw drivers. We notice that on the recent Smith & Son modifications to our design this protection has been abandoned, so we take it that experience has shewn there is no real danger from this cause. We do not wish to appear hypercritical, but from an inspection of the drawing we are inclined to feel that on the switchbox itself the various operating levers and buttons are very close together, and we fear one might damage one's knuckles, for instance against the Yale key when turning the ignition on or off, and from knocking one's knuckles on the ignition when trying to press the starter button with the thumb - which is a very minor point. We notice on the switchbox a position for the parking light. So far we have not fitted this particular item to our cars, but it may be intended to do so in the future. At the moment our wing lamps and tail lamp are fitted with the lowest capacity bulb we can buy, so there is no saving in current consumption unless we go to the use of some bulb not having the standard SBC. socket. | ||