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).
Material procurement and production planning for the 40/50 HP & Spectre models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\2\ scan0317 | |
| Date | 19th November 1934 | |
| SECRET. x4554 Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} e.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Worl/R.19.11.34. 40/50 H.P. Material & SpectreCodename for Phantom III. You have recently agreed to our ordering 50 sets of bars and billets. These can, of course, be used for any type of production. In addition, the only material we have, and which we are working upon, is 100 sets for 'T.2' Series. Of the 'T2' Series chassis we have still to put on test ............................ 79. Assuming Sales require us to continue putting chassis on test at the rate of 4 per week (we have sold since the first of January this year an average of 4.6 per week) the last chassis of 'T2' Series will go to test about the end of March next. We should have received the word 'go' on the 3rd November to order additional material if continuity of output is to be maintained at the rate of 4 per week, but this decision was held in abeyance until our next Technical Conference at Derby - this is due to take place on Wednesday, the 21st instant. (this week) Since the material which we have for 'T.2' Series will have all been worked up into chassis by about the end of March next, as above stated, and the next Olympia Show does not take place until October 1935 (a period of about six months), it does seem there will be too long a break if we have to wait for the SpectreCodename for Phantom III. I recommend, therefore, that we make the 50 sets of bars and billets into complete sets of material, and go ahead machining only 25 sets of the 'long distance' parts as we receive them from outside. We could, of course, machine the whole of the 50 sets of such parts as automatic pieces and others on which there is very little labour. As regards the bigger parts, viz., castings and forgings, which we ourselves make in our own shops, we could carry on with these 'from hand to mouth'. I feel there would be no risk, or very little at any rate, in going ahead as I suggest, because, even though the 50 sets of material were not all used up for production, there is no doubt that they would be absorbed for repairs and spares. Should these extra 50 sets of material be built up into chassis, and the output continue at 4 per week, the last chassis would go to test about the end of June next, and this would give three full months at least prior to next Olympia Show. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} | ||