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).
Comparison of production and development costs for B.III and B.50 frames from various suppliers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 112\2\ scan0101 | |
| Date | 11th April 1938 | |
| 827 also 427, 1260, 50x To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} SECRET PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS OF B.III. AND B.50 FRAME. We have had the following quotations for 1,000 B.III. frames. Original Design. Frame Price Tool Cost. Thompsons. £17. 10. 0. £3,500 Projectile. £17. 10. 0. £4,958 Briggs. £10. 5. 7. £6,862. 5. 0. Latest Design. Thompsons. £12. 0. 0. £3,500 Thompsons. £11. 10. 0. £2,500 Briggs. £ 6. 15. 6. £5,545 Rubery Owen. Refused to quote. It is obvious from these figures that our Production supplies must come from Briggs. For B.50 frame Briggs will require 9/- increase per frame and £250 more for tools. The difference between the 2 sets of prices shows that the frame development work has caused a £3. 10. 1 reduction on each frame and £1,317. 5. 0. reduction in tool cost. Up-to-date we have spent at John Thompsons £518. 17. 6. on B.III. and B.50 frames and it appears that we shall need 3 more B.III. and 3 more B.50 frames which will mean a bump chassis and 2 cars for each type. If we are able to get these frames at the same price as the previous experimental frames they will cost £265. This means that the saving in tool cost alone from development work on B.III. frame will more than pay for all our experimental B.III. and B.50 frames. This development work, however, has also made the frame stand up on the bumper rig and has reduced the frame weight by 65 lbs. Briggs are not equipped for supplying sample frames, so that we must rely on Thompsons who have been extremely prompt and helpful for all experimental frames. At the moment Thompsons have assembled four frames for under half the cost prices. We are going to make arrangements so that we pay Thompsons the full price for this work which we estimate will mean another £26. We hope in this way we shall always be able to use Thompsons for expl. frames and Briggs for Production quantities. | ||