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).
Copy of a letter from F.H. Royce discussing production policy and improvements for the 20 HP model.
| Identifier | Morton\M2.1\ img047 | |
| Date | 4th April 1929 | |
| 3 COPY OF LETTER FROM MR. F.{Mr Friese} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} ROYCE. Le Villa Mimosa, Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence, par le Lavandou, Var, France. 4/4/29. 20 H.P. Dear Mr. Sidgreaves, I have written a very long memo. on the above which I am sending to W.W. for typing, but to save time I send you the summary. Considering that the sales are not going as well as we should have hoped, the following policy is recommended by Mr. Wormald and myself:- (1) We have already decided on making 150, and after these no more materials shall be ordered or chassis made until some changes are made in our model or our policy. (2) That we slow up production to avoid accumulating stock and we also use up all our stock of chassis and cars. (3) That these 150 chassis and our stock will supply our sales requirements until we have tested an improved model, and even if not we had better starve our markets rather than have stock which will be out of date. (4) That even the 150 already in hand should be made as attractive as possible by:- to benefit owner driver (1) Central oiling. " appearance (2) Smaller wheels. " performance (3) Lower gear. (10 tooth pinion). " performance (4) Higher max. engine revs. (valves jump later) most important of all:- (5) Framed instruments " performance (6) Only allow bodies of light construction to be fitted. " appearance (7) Supply only the lower raked steering. We must not allow the reputation of this 20 HP. to suffer any longer by handicapping its performance and | ||