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).
Stock levels and supply chain for main bearings and connecting rods.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\3\ scan0268 | |
| Date | 23th December 1936 | |
| To "Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}" "Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}" -2- Sr/VAI/MLG.23.12.36 Chassis B-130-EF- Joninon- was fitted with 6 new connecting rods to LOP.2704 -Hall's metal big ends) on the 18/4/36. 4) The cars against which we have put a blue line will be called in according to mileage and after the cars mentioned above have received attention. MATERIAL The question of having a certain amount of material in stock, before we start calling in the cars and of being sure that we can rely upon receiving material as the work progresses is an important one for us. For your information, the following is the present position concerning material. Main bearings- We have in stock one set of whitemetal main bearings suitable for use with our martell reamer. We have on order, as per our order N°120I of the 30th November last, one set of W/M main bearings and one set of connecting rods with Hall's metal bearings. We also ordered, as per our order N°123I of the 10th instant, one set of connecting rods complete with bearings. We have not yet received the above parts. At present we have no connecting rods in stock. OR As we shall probably have to engage two more engine fitters in order to cope with the bearing job and as we want to start our programm immediately after the Xmas holidays, we shall be glad if you will please let us know as quickly as possible if you can supply us at once with 4 sets of whitemetal main bearings complete with R.R.56 liners, also as the job proceeds if we can rely upon Works supplying us with one or possibly two sets per week of W/M main bearings. Connecting Rods- Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} has informed us as per his RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/AP.II.12.36 that the Works are on production changing over from Hall's metal to R.R.56 metal for big end bearings and that it will only be a question of time taken to fit the R.R.56 material before it will be fitted to all Bentley cars. For security, we should naturally prefer to fit connecting rods with R.R.56 bearings and shims. It would appear however that we may have to wait before the material is available. Will you therefore please let us know when we can expect delivery of 2 sets of connecting rods fitted with Hall's metal bearings and R.R.56 shims. When we start attending to cars against which we have put one red line which as far as we can tell/should be in several weeks time could we be sure of receiving a set of connecting rods about once a week. It is to be understood that any connecting rods dismantled will be returned to you by the | ||