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 a potential supplier, Messrs. Alfold and Alder Ltd., for the manufacturing of wheel hubs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 137\5\ scan0190 | |
| Date | 8th December 1937 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/EG. RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/SS.{S. Smith} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Ds. c. to RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} 2008 GRY{Shadwell Grylls}/ 1159. RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/EG.4/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions} 8.12.37. WHEEL HUBS. In connection with the above we paid a visit to the works of Messrs. Alfold and Alder Ltd., Walworth, S.E.17., the primary object being to look over their plant and equipment etc., to see if this was adaptable for producing wheel hubs to suit our requirements. We were shown round their factories by Mr.Maxted Managing Director, and Mr.Glover, and we would not hesitate to say that after they have been thoroughly acquainted with our requirements they have the personel, and the necessary plant to turn out a job to the degree of accuracy and finish which we should expect. The company has been establised some 120 years and are now principally engaged manufacturing Standard, SS.{S. Smith}, Ford and Talbot Front Axles and Brake Mechanism, turning out some 2,500 per week, they also make Lagonda and other Wheel Hubs in smaller quantities. Regarding the quotations for the Bentley lll Hubs it would appear that the price stated covers planning, laid down to give the standard of finish we require, and we do not anticipate that any increase in price would be required should it turn out that we were not satisfied with the quality of the job given, they have covered themselves for 12 1/2 per cent rejects in their estimates, and are fully prepared to work in full co-operation with us to achieve a satisfactory product, we were given to understand that forgings would be supplied in the heat treated condition by the Smith-Clayton Forge Ltd., Lincoln. As previously stated their works are engaged upon various front axle assemblies which are manufactured to a price, the quality of which is not comparable to the Rolls-Royce products, inasmuch, that no polishing and crack testing of Steering Levers etc., is done, forgings being left as they come out of the die. The finish of unimportant machined faces was rough, and threads did not appear to be of good finish and form, but as the threads on our hubs would be screw milled we ignored this point. contd. over........ | ||