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).
Proposal for a new type of lock to prevent car theft by securing the change speed lever.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 113\3\ scan0001 | |
| Date | 12th May 1919 guessed | |
| X.3504. Extract from E1/G30119. (8) LOCK TO PREVENT CAR STEALING. 4 The ignition lock is considered useless to prevent theft of cars, on account of the magneto. The most desirable form of lock was thought to be one which fixes the change speed lever in the neutral position, this being most easily accomplished by a finger which pushed down and clipped the change speed lever. It would be unlocked by a Yale key. It was expected that a device of this description would be incorporated in the new model. The change speed is sufficiently high from the floor to allow of convenience in unlocking, even though the key be attached to the end of a watch chain. | ||