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).
Policy for fitting American parts to R-R chassis, contrasting the principle of using the best parts versus locally available spares.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M2\M2.5\ img001 | |
| Date | 16th July 1920 | |
| ORIGINAL. O To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to C. c. to Or. c. to OY. c. to Ns.{Norman Scott} R.F.C. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/LG16.7.20. RECEIVED R C JUL 22 1920 *10 X-37-40 to X3231 X.294 X.873 X-3893. RE. AMERICAN PARTS FOR R-R CHASSIS. X.3614 Attached herewith are reports on parts submitted to us for test from America. Since CJ. stated in April last so emphatically that the R-R chassis in America must be identical to the Derby built chassis, tests on American parts have taken their turn with other experimental work. Up to the present when we have been testing experimental parts which it is suggested to fit to R.R. chassis, we have always acted on the principle that we wanted to fit the very best possible parts which could be obtained *no matter whether these parts were made in England, Germany, America or elsewhere. Springfield now bring forward the argument that the first consideration should be, *not whether the article is the best but whether spares can be obtained at any local garage.* There can be no disputing their attitude because of the fact that they do not wish to fit to the R.R. Cars made in America the Starter Motor which has been designed, experimented with, manufactured in quantities and tested in quantities and proved in service on R.R. Cars but instead, they wish to fit the Bijur Motor which we *have never tested on a car and know nothing about. We can see some reason (although we may not agree with Springfield) that they may not wish to fit the same proprietary articles as we do to the Derby chassis but we cannot understand their attitude in preferring to fit a proprietary article which we know nothing CONTd. R.R. 199 (ISD) (SD676 19-7-17) M.P.18986S | ||