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 from Champion Sparking Plug Co. Ltd. addressing misinterpretations and performance issues with their plugs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 162\3\ img194 | |
| Date | 23th April 1940 | |
| 2 TELEPHONE: HOUNSLOW 4494 (4 LINES) TELEGRAMS: CHAMPLUG.PHONE.LONDON. CABLES: CHAMPLUG.LONDON. CHAMPION SPARKING PLUG CO.LTD., Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Childs MEMBERS OF S.M.M. & T. M.T.A. B.C.&M.C.M.& T.U. N.U.M. PLEASE ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COMPANY & NOT TO INDIVIDUALS. FELTHAM, MIDDLESEX. 23rd. April 1940. IN REPLY PLEASE REFER TO MANAGING DIRECTOR RAL/FP.{F. Potts} Messrs. Rolls Royce Ltd., DERBY. Dear Sirs, Attention : W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham, Esq., We have read with considerable concern and interest your letter of the 11th instant, ref. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs}11/JH and have withheld replying until we could contact with our French Company officials and also Mr. Irving, to get a clearer picture of the issue, which has arisen through misinterpretation on the part of our French Company. It is difficult at times to word reports or correspondence to our French Company officials so as to convey to them information in such a way that they can pass it on to give the recipients the proper perspective. We agree that the report was worded in a manner which could be easily misconstrued and I have taken the necessary steps to prevent a repetition of this. We must apologise for the impression you have gained, as certainly we had no thought in singling out any individual in your organisation as being completely sold on the quality of our product. On the other hand, the impression we endeavoured to convey was that we were receiving full co-operation from your Technical Department, to enable us to overcome any difficulties which arose during the tests you were carrying out on our plugs. We are certainly pleased to have confirmation that our Type L.10-S is giving quite good results in the Bentley and Wraith on the Continent, but note that difficulties have still to be overcome on slow running, if the performance of our plugs is to be equally as good, if not better, than those of competition. It will be our one endeavour to overcome this particular condition. Again we are greatly concerned with the remarks in your fifth paragraph regarding your Mr. Robotham and agree that if the remark had been expressed with such a thought in mind, it would have been a ridiculous assertion. However, according to information I have received since receipt of your letter, what was meant to be implied was that our product has shown to advantage in certain instances over competition, and that you were willing to recognise the merits of same. | ||