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).
Secret memo expressing concern over the lack of progress on new car and aero engine models compared to competitors.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0061 | |
| Date | 1st February 1935 | |
| SECRET. still appear to be a very long way off a new model. The first SpectreCodename for Phantom III was completed last summer but we have not yet, after 6/7 months, got a car running well enough even to send to France for test. Dealing with the aero engine side, here again we are extremely busy on production at the present time but our future position is very precarious. We have realised for a very long time that a larger engine was necessary and, whilst I have not looked up dates, it must be at least 2 years since we decided to make what is now known as Merlin. It was to be our reply to the Fairey 'Prince'. The air-cooled people have caught us up, and in some cases, I fear, passed us in the same way as the Americans have on the car side of the business, and it is the future that I am concerned about, i.e. where we shall be in 1936, 1937, etc. We have purchased 5 American cars in the last few months for various reasons, i.e. making comparisons and obtain-ing information on different points, so our expenses on design and experimental work have gone up in leaps and bounds. I have practically never said 'No' to anything in this direction because I did not want there to be any excuse for results not being obtained, but as mentioned before I feel very much concerned about our lack of progress, despite the large staff of skilled and hardworking officials, i.e. when one really tries to see in what way we have improved our products in the last 3 years, one is faced with the fact that the results are poor and it is only by results that we can maintain our position. You are financially concerned in the future of the Company as we all are. I do not want this memo, to be taken as a complaint because I realise that everybody has been doing the best they know but what I should like you to do is to let me have your suggestions as to why we have not been making better progress during the last year or so and how we can so alter things as to ensure improved or better results in the future. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||