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).
Damaged instruments from Weston Electrical Co. and an unsolicited dynamo from Lucas Elec. Co.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 33\1\ Scan101 | |
| Date | 27th January 1922 | |
| To CJ. from EFC. EFC1/T27.1.22. Answering your CJ2/E26.1.22 :- 26.5.21. Weston Electrical Co. These two instruments were damaged on an experimental car with earthed system owing to a feature of the instruments by which, if the case be earthed and a screw driver used for adjustment, the possibility exists of the screw driver touching both adjusting screw and case at the same time and allowing a damaging current to pass through the coil of the instrument. This does not concern us in the 40/50 case as the instrument case is insulated by the instrument board. In my opinion this constitutes a fault in the instrument and I wrote to Messrs. Weston pointing this out, having in view the possibility of the development of our experimental earthed system on the 40/50, in which the case of the instrument would necessarily be earthed. In that case it would have been quite necessary for this feature to have been altered. At the time of writing about this to Messrs. Weston we stated that we should be returning the two instruments for repair. The usual note was sent to the Order Office, Shipping Office and Despatch Stores with regard to having the necessary instructions given for the return of these for repair, and we added a note to the effect that we did not think Messrs. Weston would charge us for these repairs. In any case, the date of my note (1.4.21) was previous to the receipt of your sheet explaining the necessity, of Jn's signature. Messrs. Weston would not agree to consider this a fault of the instrument and they decided, after some correspondence, to make a charge, during which time your instruction had been received. The amount charged for repair was less than the price of one instrument, whilst the repair has provided us with two instruments, equal to new, which would otherwise have been scrap. 1.11.21. Lucas Elec. Co. This item refers to one of two dynamos received from the Lucas Co. in connection with the Goshawk. Only one dynamo was definitely ordered, but Messrs. Lucas decided on their own initiative to submit a second dynamo with a different scheme of control. I have seen Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} and as we do not require this other dynamo, he is taking steps to have the invoice credited, and the dynamo returned. EFC. | ||