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).
Tyre prices and the search for alternative suppliers to Dunlop.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 158\1\ scan0179 | |
| Date | 28th March 1938 | |
| 1339 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}12/R.28.3.38. TYRE PRICES. We consider that we have in the past paid too much for our original tyre equipment from the Dunlop Rubber Co., and that now they have control of the India Tyre Co., the same state of affairs applies to their products. We have, therefore, been endeavouring to find an alternative source of supply for B.50. The two most promising manu-facturers appear to be British Goodrich, and the Avon Tyre Co. Before approaching these two companies, we gave the Dunlop people the chance to work with us and sent them a letter, a copy of which we attach. We have not yet received a satis-factory reply. The British Goodrich have not yet been able to submit a suitable tyre, but their Parent Co. in America make one which would appear to suit our requirements. We are getting a set over from the States, and if they are promising, the Goodrich Co. are going to make the necessary moulds and manufacture them over here. We attach a copy of a letter from them showing the price reductions compared with Dunlops. The Avon Co. have quite a nice little factory, an intelligent Chief Engineer, and are most anxious to work with us even though ultimately they may not succeed in getting our business. They are willing to meet us on price to the same extent as the British Tyre Co.. As was agreed at a recent Conference, therefore, we are going ahead with these two Companies. We are very disappointed in the Dunlop people's attitude because we have had to more or less push them into every move made on tyre for the last 14 or 15 years, and have spent a very considerable sum helping them with their developments. We hope it will be agreed that they shall not have the business back even if they come along at the last moment and change their idea about prices. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||