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).
Options for new anti-dazzle headlamps for Continental driving conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 167\1\ img071 | |
| Date | 24th November 1936 | |
| 6116 To Sr(Paris) from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wst. c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} RE. HEAD LAMPS. Messrs. Lucas are producing for us a new type of head lamp for the Phantom III. and Bentley Chassis, modelled on the lines of the French Marchal. These head lamps will have the normal dip reflector scheme, and at this stage Messrs Lucas have raised the question of our requirements on these lamps for Continental conditions. In this connection we would like to have your considered opinion with regard to what anti-dazzle feature should be fitted to our lamps to suit driving on the Continent. We have the French Lighting Regulations which are fairly comprehensive, but Messrs Lucas have told us they have submitted lamps to the French authorities, which as far as they have been able to judge conformed to the French Lighting Regulations, and the same have been rejected. The problem is more acute on these new lamps due to the fact that the reflector has vertical ribs impressed in it in a similar fashion to the Marchal. We cannot, as heretofor with Lucas P.100 lamps, alter the position of the reflector inside the lamp as it would immediately upset the beam and make the appearance of the lamp depressing. The alternatives we have in mind are as follows:- (a) Vertical dip and switch or vertical double dip. (b) Arrangements whereby ordinary double filament lamp bulbs can be interchanged with the existing single filament bulbs for Continental work. This converts the lamp from the dip reflector type to the double filament type. (c) Using the centre lamp and changing from head lamps to centre lamps instead of dip and switch. Would you be good enough to let us have your views on the general position as soon as possible in order that we can instruct Messrs. Lucas accordingly. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wst. | ||