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 strategies for improvements to the 40/50 model, including the 'Curlew' variant with front-wheel brakes and an overhead valve engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 183\M22\ img201 | |
| Date | 14th September 1922 | |
| [Handwritten:] ORIGINAL 40/50 E.P. CURLEW H2/14.9.22. (P1) (PRO.) To BJ. From R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to Ed.{J. L. Edwards} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} [text crossed out] c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [text crossed out] My dear BJ., IMPROVEMENTS IN 40/50. X.3548 I shall be glad if you will discuss with CJ. as to whether it is possible for us to combine Nos. 1 & 2 moves, that is, produce the "Curlew" straight away, being the present 40/50 with front wheel brakes, and an engine with overhead valves. This would be less costly to the Company but I don't think it would make any serious difference to the signing department. If it would make no difference to the Sales it is much to be preferred to the necessity of making in all 3 models with various improvements. Mr. Wormald and Mr. Bailey were here yesterday and it was decided that we could not foretell when any of the improvements would be ready to standardise, but that the stock of parts need not now delay the introduction, and the maintenance of sufficient stock to keep up the output could be obtained in small quantities just to keep the Works running. The present smaller out-put permits materials being obtained from hand to mouth so that a large stock would not be needed such as is necessary in busy times when materials were difficult to obtain, and when a large output necessarily means keeping plenty of stock in hand. We are therefore sending to the Works at the first possible minute all sorts of parts for the whole 3 moves of improvements, irrespective of their order, so that the Works will have ample experimental work going through, and so leave less parts to make towards the completion of the 3rd move, that is, we are both going to push on with all the three moves with the utmost possible speed both in the D.Os and the Works, as can be found most convenient to facilitate progress. Later on we can judge from the results, when we can standardise any of the 3 moves. I conclude that this is also your views unless I hear to the contrary. Yours ever, R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||