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).
Comparative manufacturing costs, design simplification, and production rationalization for Bentley and Wraith models against competitors.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0391 | |
| Date | 28th July 1938 | |
| -2- Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/MH.{M. Huckerby}28.7.38. Balance these reductions against additional complication of frame and suspension and it is clearly difficult to imagine that, how-ever much design was simplified, a reduction of 40% could be achieved. In other words, our old Bentley design might be expected to cost 40% more than the Jaguar to fabricate but not 300% more. The manufacturing section have suffered as much from lack of a rationalised programme as the Design. They are revising their methods at the same time as we are scheming for interchange-ability. You will appreciate that these photographs are only part of the story, because if we sent you photographs of the latest Cadillac 16-cylinder engine or the Wilson gearbox they would be considerably more complicated than the corresponding section of the Bentley, and yet are both fitted to complete cars costing considerably less than the Bentley, as we pointed out in Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/R.{Sir Henry Royce} 2.12.37 (attached). In spite of a labour cost per hour about 50% higher than our own, the Americans can make small quantities of cars having 12 or 16 cylinders very cheaply. Briefly, the progress that has already been made in reducing the labour hours on the Wraith indicates that we have not been economical in our manufacturing costs in the past, since this chassis is certainly more complicated than the 25/30. Analysis of other peoples' figures such as Leyland's and AE.C's shows that we still have a good way to go and the fact is generally appreciated at Derby. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||