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).
Letter from the Air Ministry concerning sparking plugs for the Merlin engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 58\2\ Scan241 | |
| Date | 2nd October 1935 | |
| 86800. TEL. NO. HOLBORN 3434. Any communications on the subject of this letter should be addressed to :- THE SECRETARY, AIR MINISTRY, ADSTRAL HOUSE, KINGSWAY, LONDON, W.C.2. and the following number quoted :- 255207/33/R.D.E.3/E.M.E. Your ref: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst.3/MA. AIR MINISTRY, LONDON, W.C. 2. 2nd October, 1935. SPARKING PLUGS FOR MERLIN ENGINE. For the attention of Mr. E.W. Hives. Gentlemen, I am directed to refer to your letter of the 20th ultimo addressed for the attention of Mr. Foord. Your remarks with regard to the failure of the Lodge X.465D plugs are noted and on enquiry it has been ascertained that the plugs used for these tests were originally made up with the ball terminal but were modified to the special terminal necessary to fit the particular type of K.L.G. screening cowl which you propose to use. Such a modification to a plug which had already been completed is frequently unsatisfactory and may account for the loosening of the mica washers of which you complain. In the circumstances, it is suggested that it is hardly fair to condemn the type of plug as a result of a single failure. Complaints have recently been received from the Service as to the very large number of new types of plugs which are being introduced in connection with new engines and it is hoped that it may be found possible in flight with a Merlin engine to use the K.L.G. V.14/1D (895D) and the Lodge A.14/1D which it is expected will have a very wide application in Service. Rolls-Royce, Limited, DERBY. /It | ||