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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 discussing difficulties in making prototype bodies during the war and planning for post-war car projects.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 117\3\  scan0212
Date  25th November 1940
  
1021

Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/ML.
25.11.40.

C.W.Ward,Esq.,
Messrs Park Ward & Co.Ltd.,
473, High Road,
WILLESDEN. N.W.10.

Dear Ward,

November. Thank you for your letter of the 22nd.

I do appreciate your difficulties very keenly, particularly as I have seen something of the London Blitz since last I visited your Factory. However, it is no good us working away this end on design if we cannot get something made, and I happened to meet a fellow the other day who makes the bodies for Talbot's and when I spoke of the difficulties of getting prototype bodies made he jumped at the idea of doing a job for us.

Naturally, we would much rather you handled the work, but you are very much in the "front line area" and therefore it may be more difficult for you than for him. I know however, that he will give us a reasonable promise for completion, which we must have if we are to progress.

I would still like you to come up here and discuss ways and means of getting these bodies made and see what we have drawn. Green is getting quite disconsolate and I think a visit from you would cheer him up.

Though I have a number of jobs connected with the war I have refused to let the car job stop completely and we are getting bits and pieces made by small firms and also always keeping six or seven men on design work. After all, this Company already has close on 40,000 men engaged on aircraft engine production and if we cannot spare 20 to work on post-war projects, then we are going to have a very uncomfortable time when peace breaks out.

- Continued -
  
  


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