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).
Letter detailing the procurement status of machines and tools for gun manufacturing, including barrels and breech mechanisms.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 170\4\ img037 | |
| Date | 29th August 1940 | |
| via Boat Mail OX 1/D/Aug.29.40 Serial No. 206 August 29, 1940 Rolls-Royce, Ltd. Derby, England Guns Re. Tools We have a detail of the 40 m/m by 80" barrel. Drilling, reaming and rifling machines are ordered for October delivery from Pratt & Whitney. Monarch lathe for exterior machining has been quoted to you. (See cable Olley 173). We have no approval of this yet. Also Barnesdril micromatic honing outfit. With regard to chambering machines we have your advise that procurement of these is possible in England and they will not be required. Quotation for Pratt & Whitney and Engis machines for 1/2" by 36" barrel have been quoted, but quotation is not accepted yet by you. (See Olley 162) The manufacture of 1/2" by 36" guns has been discussed with the British Purchasing Commission (Mr. Lee of the British Purchasing Commission is in charge of gun procurement). We have sent the British Purchasing Commission a photostat of your arrangement print of the breech mechanism. We have received wood models of two parts of the breech mechanism. We have not received details which were promised us early in July. Your recommendation to try the United Shoe Machinery Company of Beverley, Massachusetts, has not been followed up for lack of detail prints and because we did not want to broadcast the arrangement drawing of the breech mechanism which you have sent us. We have advised the Purchasing Commission that this firm is a likely source for machining of small parts. | ||