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).
Issues with experimental cars, specifically regarding non-standard springs used in trials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\3\ scan0107 | |
| Date | 1st September 1924 | |
| To Wer. from CJ. c. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} Re Experimental Cars. Referring to my memo. CJ1/E1/9/24, re experimental cars, the precaution proposed therein had nothing at all to do with delays. It was to prevent cars being sent to WestWittering or London for trial or to France for 10,000 miles' trials, which are fitted with parts which are not in accord with the drawings and specifications which it is intended to make standard. I gathered that the car which was running in France was fitted with springs made by Firth's which were similar to the spring which was shown by Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} to R.{Sir Henry Royce} last Wednesday week and which R.{Sir Henry Royce} said was faulty in design and concerning which, when Rg.{Mr Rowledge} described to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} the design of the spring last Friday at Derby, BY said that it was not in accordance with our design and specification. The history of the submission by the Experimental Dept. of cars for the Sales Department to try in relation to springs and four wheel brakes seems to show that a large amount of time and money was being wasted inasmuch as the cars were fitted with springs which were not those which it was intended to fit as standard subject to their going through their tests. I do not particularly mind how the end we have in view is brought about provided that it is operative, namely, that there shall not be submitted to West WitteringHenry Royce's home town or to London and that there shall not be sent to France for 10,000 miles trials cars fitted with parts which are not in accordance with the drawings and specification which are recommended by the Technical Department for adoption as standard subject to their going through the necessary tests. I shall be anxious to know whether the spring which failed in France was similar to the spring which was submitted to R.{Sir Henry Royce} at West WitteringHenry Royce's home town last Wednesday week and which was condemned by him. If so, then clearly the running of a car fitted with such a spring was an error which has cost the Company a considerable amount of money and considerable loss of time. As regards the clip, it is no use going over past history. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} no doubt acted with the best possible intention but, as I understand it, R.{Sir Henry Royce} definitely objects to the Firth clip which was submitted to him last Wednesday week and insists on the Woodhead clip. Therefore, it rests with us to persuade Firth's to make | ||