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 to Leyland Motors regarding the marketing of an aluminium tin bearing and a misunderstanding about its development.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\4\ scan0078 | |
| Date | 13th June 1940 | |
| 1175 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/ML. 13.6.40. H.Spurrier,Esq., Leyland Motors Ltd., LEYLAND, Lancs., Dear Spurrier, As you know, we developed the aluminium tin bearing and John Howlett is marketing it. He called in at the Works on his way up to see you last week and mentioned that you were having trouble. This was one of the reasons why I visited Leyland on Friday. As a result of the visit I wrote a letter to Pilkington, a copy of which I attach. Yesterday, we, received a copy of a letter from John Howlett, from which the follow-ing is an extract : "The second factor is really the point about which I am writing to you. Pilkington and young Henry both told me that Robotham of Rolls Royce has told them that they have dropped A.C.9. Now, what he probably meant was that they were no longer going on with their experiments on their aircraft engines. I don't think today is the time for any experiments, but he told them this in such a way that they themselves immediately said when I met them "But Robotham said that even Rolls have dropped it" and the Travellers who are selling competitive bearings, lead bronze and so on, have all got this story about Rolls having dropped it and it makes it very difficult for me to try and stir up any enthusiasm for a product when I get stabbed in the back like this" - Continued - | ||