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).
Ignition systems for the 'V' Series engine, comparing the automatic governor with Watford and Scintilla magnetos.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 69\3\ scan0053 | |
| Date | 26th January 1925 | |
| To CL from Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. to F.E. c. to W.R. c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X.8770 Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}5/M26.1.25. RE "V" SERIES. ----------- Referring to CJ7/E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} 23. 1. 25. and dealing with the R.R. Automatic Ignition Governor, the notes on our copy of the minutes of the Grosvenor Hotel Conference do not agree with the remarks made in paragraph 2. of your memo quoted. The notes made on our copy are as follows:- "Automatic Ignition Governor. Yes, if possible. Failing this, both ignitions to be hand-controlled, using Watford Magneto." R.{Sir Henry Royce} confirmed this decision by adding that he objected to the use of a foreign made magneto. Referring to Paragraph 3, it is not clear why FN. and CWB. consider that the Relay System of Oil Control Advance is intricate. As a matter of fact the operation of same is extremely simple, the main factor of which has two moving parts, and such parts are capable of working between very wide limits so far as clearances are concerned, and we do not feel there will be any more difficulty in perfecting this particular unit than we shall have on many other parts of the new engine. In regard to the question of cost, the maximum increased cost of the RR. scheme complete over the Scintilla is £6. 18. 0. which is not a high price to pay for certain definite improvements which will be obtained by the use of R's Scheme in this connection. In regard to the Scintilla magneto, in addition to the big handicap of the distance we are from the source of supply, there are the distinct features shown up in the Experimental Dept. in which it is inferior to the Watford, namely, it has not nearly so good a spark when attempting to start the engine, and if it had to be relied upon by the failure of the battery ignition, it would certainly be more difficult to start up with the Scintilla magneto than it is with the Watford. Contd. | ||