How in the hell did these ever remain flying when they had Lucas electrics?
![Laughing :-DD](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley_laughing.gif.pagespeed.ce._hfWAz_QHO.gif)
![](https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/hMnWa6.jpg)
I don't think they did use Lucas equipment!
Obviously, I wasn't around during the Battle of Britain, but looking at old copies of "The Aeroplane", & other publications of the period, I have the distinct impression that such stuff was made/designed by a different, specialist, manufacturer.
Lucas may have made some parts under contract, like many others did, however.
Joseph Lucas always struck me as having a hubris problem, & were sure they were the best, in the face of mounting evidence that they were not.
I think that is the only explanation as to why they didn't just buy some Bosch stuff & reverse engineer it to find out what that company did right, & Lucas did wrong.
The Solex & Zenith carburettors so beloved of Brit carmakers in the 50s are another example:-
The Stromberg single barrel downdrafts used by Holden were simple, rugged, & reliable, in fact, there was a thriving cottage industry in Oz, back in those days, rejetting Strombergs & fitting them to "Pommy" cars, to replace the fiddly, fussy OEM carbs.