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).
Internal instruction on cost-saving methods for sending international cablegrams.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 33\1\ Scan115 | |
| Date | 4th October 1922 | |
| Brt. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} RECEIVED OCT 4 1922 X1775 Worl/M4/10/22. Below is a copy of BJ17/H29/9/22, which please note and instruct accordingly:- "Cablegrams." I am not sure whether it is fully appreciated, and therefore will you please inform all concerned, that we can often save large sums when cabling by sending cables as shown in 'B' and 'C':- 'A'. Under the DIRECT SERVICE to all countries cables are charged at full rate. They may be sent in code or otherwise. This is of course the most expensive way of cabling. 'B'. Under the DEFERRED SERVICE we can cable at half the original rate if the cable is not coded. This only causes a delay of eight to twelve hours. 'C'. Under the WEEKEND LETTER TELEGRAMS (only via "Imperial") we may cable to Australia, New Zealand and certain Pacific Islands, at about a quarter of the full rate if the cables are not in code. Before sending a cable serious consideration should be given to whether a certain amount of delay will matter. Some official at S and W should be in a position to give full details to anyone enquiring showing what will be the result if 'B' or 'C' methods are used. For instance, we might send a cable from here at noon thinking it would arrive in Australia the same day, whereas really if the times of the different countries were carefully compared, it might be found that it could not possible arrive until the next morning, and therefore might be sent by method 'B'. In a similar manner often a Week-end Letter Telegram (at a quarter the price of a direct cable) might be just as serviceable as a direct cable at four times the cost of a week-end telegram. BJ. wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} | ||