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).
Investigation report into the cause of a fire behind an instrument board, which was traced to a faulty automatic cigar lighter.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 162\1\ img006 | |
| Date | 30th August 1939 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. C. c. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. Sr. (2) Re B-147-LE. As to Mr.Clifford Sabey Jr.{Mr James Royce} Fire behind instrument board. Paris Report 279. The report stated that the fire was suspected to be caused by the Berkshire automatic cigar lighter, sticking in the "on" position. The Car came into K.{Mr Kilner} last week to be rewired and all damaged parts replaced. I examined the Car to try and ascertain the cause of the fire and found very conflicting evidence, but after sifting it out I came to the conclusion that the Berkshire automatic cigar lighter was under the circumstances the cause of the fire. This does not mean that I condemn this type of lighter, but certainly where and how it is fitted. Enquiries at N. K.{Mr Kilner} and Paris has not revealed many failures of this type of lighter but those that have failed have all been due to the automatic release not functioning. The evidence I found which caused the fire in my opinion is as follows:- The cigar lighter was fitted on the instrument board in such a manner that the bunch of wires at the back of the board feeding the ammeter, instruments etc. rested on the contact base of the lighter. The lighter having in some way accidently been pushed in, did not release. The heat generated by the filament and bronze faulty contacts was such, that the insulating material of the bunch of wires smouldered and eventually burnt through causing a short circuit of the ammeter and other feed wires. This is substantiated by the fact that the ammeter internal wiring was burnt out. The glass face was scorched on the inside and not on the outside. cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} | ||