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).
Production and delivery delays for tyre inflators and road springs due to a miners' strike and other industrial action.
| Identifier | Morton\M5\ img016 | |
| Date | 26th October 1920 | |
| - 2 - Tyre Inflator. This morning we have received a letter from Maxfield (Birmingham) Ltd. who are manufacturing the tyre pump. They state that, up to the present, they have been unable to obtain any castings but they are promised a delivery of same on Saturday next, 30th inst. and completion by the 3rd prox. They attribute the delay to the Miners' Strike, which has been the cause of the closing of a considerable number of foundries in the Birmingham area. We are informed that the foundry where the castings for Maxfields are being made is only running 2 1/2 days per week. Maxfields themselves have had to restrict their working to 25 hours per week and state that, in the circumstances, they will have very great difficulty in getting the pumps out by the time specified in our order, namely, 17th prox. We have instructed Maxfields that they must bring pressure to bear on the authorities to allow them to work full normal hours, not only in their own factory, but also to get this privilege extended to the foundry on whom they are dependent for castings, but I am of opinion that they will not succeed, as they are a very small firm with no influence. To make such an appeal successful, they should be backed by the War Office and we suggest that the War Office address an appeal to the Home Office in London, or whichever Office is dealing with this matter, with a view to obtain a special permit for Maxfields and their foundry to work full normal hours. The address of Maxfields is:- Maxfield (Birmingham) Ltd., 175, Clifton Road, Aston, Birmingham. We have a promise that the flexible tubing for the tyre pump will be despatched by makers in 6 to 9 days from the present and will be forwarded by passenger train; therefore these tubes should arrive in ample time, provided there is no hold-up on the railways. Road Springs. Owing to the Strike of Transport Drivers in Leeds, there has been a temporary hold-up of springs. Yesterday we ascertained that the drivers in the employment of the Midland Railway Co. were not out on Strike and we thereupon made arrangements that they should collect the springs from Woodheads and deliver them to the Goods Dept. of the Midland Rly. This was done and the springs were loaded into a through waggon, (contd) | ||