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).
Discrepancy in battery dimensions from supplier P & R for the 40/50 HP chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 54\1\ Scan133 | |
| Date | 27th October 1926 | |
| X4615P EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} W.J. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY15/H. 27.10.26 / I STAMP: OCT 27 1926 STAMP: RECEIVED P & R.BATTERIES IN 40/50 HP.CHASSIS. Referring to Wdl/EB.13.10.26. and EFC {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} 2/T.15.10.26. I think the position at the moment in regard to batteries is entirely wrong. The one object in the minds of all of us when we were discussing the batteries generally, that is, P & R, Exide, and R.R.Ltd, was to have a battery, whether it was produced by P & R. {Sir Henry Royce} or Exide, which was practically identical, and we even went so far as to define how we should shape the grid for holding the paste. In view of these circumstances, I certainly feel that P & R. {Sir Henry Royce} have acted entirely wrong in making any modification to the battery without informing us that the modification in question was being made. My impression is that instead of being merely 1/16th difference in height, that a considerably increased amount has been added. Admittedly apparently 1/16th has been added recently, but so far as I understand it, almost from the start a difference has existed of ¼" in height, the P & R. {Sir Henry Royce} Company not having worked to the dimensions which were agreed upon, and they have therefore of course weighted the scales on their side in considering an Exide against a P & R battery, as a result of which one might draw absolutely erroneous conclusions to the effect that the P & R. {Sir Henry Royce} battery, as an individual cell and for each unit of capacity, was a more reliable and a better battery, owing to the fact that it has greater acid capacity and possibly even increased plate capacity. I think the only reasonable thing to do under the circumstances is to see whether the Exide Company care to come into line with what the P & R. {Sir Henry Royce} Company have done. It is somewhat questionable at this stage, as it will mean possibly new and expensive tools, but for any future development on batteries we must put beyond all question the fact that both batteries must be identical, and inform both battery makers that if they alter the battery without advising us and getting permission, it will necessarily result in trouble to themselves. BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} [Signature] | ||