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).
Failures experienced with Klaxon electric screen wipers and plans for further endurance testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 167\5\ img048 | |
| Date | 24th February 1933 | |
| X.6115 W/S. To Hn{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} c. EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey}6/KT.24.2.33. ELECTRIC SCREEN WIPERS. Hn{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders}18/1/23.2.33. With regard to the failures we have experienced with Klaxon wipers, it would appear as well to state the nature of the failures we have had more explicitly than heretofore. The first failure occurred on Bensport, and was due to the wiper blade spindle being out of alignment with the hole in the windscreen. The result was that a "stall" load was put on the motor, the switch was accidentally left on and the motor burnt out its armature windings completely. This failure, of course, is not due to the design or construction of the wiper, yet at the same time one questions whether the wiper motor should be capable of withstanding these conditions without burning out. It is not outside the range of possibility that a fire would start from this cause; actually on Bensport the only indication of the fact that the motor was switched on was the smell of the burning insulation of the armature wires. This condition of "stall" load could as easily be produced during a heavy snow storm. The second failure occurred in France on the same car, but at the moment we have no evidence to show what happened; we believe it was a mechanical failure in one of the wiper units. We quite agree with you that it is not fair to turn down the Klaxon wiper on the strength of these failures until we have given the makers ample opportunity of correcting the faults. We are starting an endurance test on one of the wipers off a Bentley 'A' body, in which the wiper will be caused to work for a long period under a heavy load. This we think will show up any weak points in the job, and will give us evidence which we can if necessary put before the makers. We do not know of any other make of wiper that can be fitted as conveniently to the scuttle rail. | ||