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).
Visit to the Briggs Body Plant, detailing observations on their operations, quality, and production.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 98\2\ scan0005 | |
| Date | 14th June 1937 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Rml/R.14.6.37. VISIT TO THE BRIGGS BODY PLANT. We visited the Briggs Body Plant on Friday of last week, Manning devoted the whole day to us. The three features which struck us most about this organisation were as follows:- (1) As opposed to firms such as Rubery Owen, the Briggs Body people seemed to realise the value of a good drawing office, and a staff of trained engineers. (2) Owing to their connection with the Ford Motor Co., their Buying Dept. appears to be exceptionally efficient. (3) Again, possibly due to their connection with the Ford Co., the speed at which the operative works appears to be very much higher than the average English factory. Generally speaking, the Factory appears to be modern in every way, the Shops are lofty and well lighted, the equipment is up-to-date. We formed a high opinion of the quality of the body shells produced. The standard of paint work did not appear to be equal to that of the fabrication of the steel work. On the other hand, most of the cases of poor paint finish seemed to be confined to bodies intended for Ford cars, where obviously the price is cut to the limit. Riley bodies were being dealt with under a separate line, and being completely trimmed and painted. Considering that these cost somewhere about £60 complete, and are not produced in very large quantities (we understand about 80 a month) they seem to be a very good job. Briggs body people were also making frames. They were making the Riley frame complete, which is a boxed-in structure having numerous cross members. They state they can make the frame at a profit at £5/5/-, but if Riley's could help them by modifying the frame to suit their manufacturing ideas | ||