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).
Progressive vehicle development, performance improvements, and addressing design complexities in response to competitors.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\R\January1928-March1928\ 172 | |
| Date | 27th March 1928 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} } FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} } (At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) Copy to BJ. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} R1/M27.3.28. REC'D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} & DESPATCHED FROM WW. 30.3.28. 20HP X5770 X634 X3531 X5080 X5010 Owing to the improvements (HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}'s report) made by our competitors - amongst them Buick and Sunbeam - we must really push forward our own progressive development - i.e. India 3. We must get better performance and greater simplicity - i.e. better value for the cost. It means a straight through carburetter, and I shall send to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} by the end of the week what I have done, but we must not wait for this. We are getting a lower top gear by reduced size of wheel: is this sufficient? I am distressed at the amount of complication we are adding with the central oiling. We must work hard to do it a nearer way, or make the parts so that they do not need oiling except once a year, as the Mechanic's joint. Find out what our competitors do, and let us not do any more, because it does not make the performance of the car any better - i.e. smoothness, acceleration, etc. It may do something to decrease the wear. Since we are in trouble with owners reaching the master period, can we not at once prepare for putting in the 37% stiffer crankshaft with oval webs, pending 10,000 mile test before these would be delivered. Will BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} please note that this does not affect con. rods, and by putting periods up say 18% in revs. get our master period beyond reach. It is madness not to do this at once: I will be responsible. We must not wait for too ambitious a programme, unless we are at once putting the important improvements into production on the understanding that they will be proved by bumper and 10,000 mile tests long before these chassis will be delivered, and they are either stronger, or have been tested on Phantom, or in slightly different form, and they replace something not quite satisfactory. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||