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).
The scrap cost of chassis engine bearing production and a recommendation to switch to centrifuged bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\3\ scan0203 | |
| Date | 10th March 1938 | |
| To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} & Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} c. to JWW. c. to H1. 1020 RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}8/MJ.10.3.38. A.{Mr Adams} C. BEARING MATERIAL. The Scrap on Chassis engine bearing production last month totalled £200. This was for the production of 44 sets of bearings which equals £4 per engine unit, and there are certain additional charges which cannot be assessed due to the dislocation of Production, and incidentally it requires quite an effort in other directions to obtain an economy of £4 per chassis. The figure of £200 is a modest figure because there is 40% Scrap in the Foundry for which no return is made and the Scrap figures referred to are the Factory Returns for manufacture. Some time ago a number of bearings were centrifuged which if adopted would bring about enormous economies in general manufacture apart from the fact of elimination of a large percentage of Scrap and it seems absurd to be committing ourselves to this unnecessary expenditure when everyone is discussing economies in other directions. 6-B-1V. Chassis is at present running in France fitted with centrifuged bearings and it is understood from the latest reports that they are so far satisfactory. In view of this it is recommended that we change over to centrifuged bearings immediately. Will you please let us know whether you are in agreement, and unless we hear to the contrary the modified procedure will be adopted on production next week because at the moment production is held up as satisfactory bearings cannot be obtained. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} | ||