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).
New steering column controls, lighting controls, and the placement of controls on the instrument board.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154\3\ scan0073 | |
| Date | 25th March 1929 | |
| OY3 March 25th, 1929. Mr. A.{Mr Adams} F.{Mr Friese} Sidgreaves, Rolls Royce Limited, London, England. Dear Mr. Sidgreaves: Re STEERING Controls on Steering Column etc. We wish to thank you for N.Sch 2809 showing new steering column controls, which I have handed over to Mr. Burton. Undoubtedly these controls giving a 1-1/2" reduction in projection of the horn button would be a great advance in appearance and in operation. Also as you say it would not be wise to copy the inverted "Bell" steering wheel of present fashions too slavishly. Bowden wires are not necessarily associated with the inverted bell controls. Friction control of the levers has been generally used, but this is only to save cost and weight and is not a necessary feature. Of course we do not propose that friction-held levers should be used as they are invariably unsatisfactory. Lighting Control. The control of the lights is commonly placed on top of the column. To do this a lighting control switch is mounted at the bottom of the steering column. On several cars on which this lighting control has been used, it is undoubtedly a convenience, but we think that the foot-operated dimming switch is better. All Controls on Instrument Board. Another tendency which is becoming very popular is to leave all or most of the controls off the steering column entirely so that the driver shall not be worried by unnecessary mechanical operations. On the Oakland all controls are by pull-buttons on the instrument board, and on the Packard Lights and throttle are the only controls on the steering wheel, the spark and carburation being controlled by buttons on the instrument board. -continued- | ||