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).
Examining the possibility of reducing and dividing the S.S. & Phantom tool kit.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\6\ Scan017 | |
| Date | 1st May 1929 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gy. c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to EY. X7580 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gy2/LG1.5.29. Y8580 RE. REDUCTION OF S.S. & PHANTOM TOOL KIT. We have now examined the possibility of reducing and dividing the tool kit as suggested in R2/M17.10.28. The maximum possible reduction in the weight of tools necessary on the road is 20 lbs. This includes absenting all box spanners from the kit. We cannot advise any actual deletion of tools or spares supplied to the customer, and those not carried on the road would be left in a box in the garage. Since the weight of the car is 5560 lbs. approx. it would seem that the validity of the suggestion depends on the gain of accessibility consequent upon such a reduction - the advantage of saving 20 lbs. on such a large weight being negligible. Moreover, six indispensible tools - the starting handle, jack, jack handle, wheel spanner, mallet and tyre pump together weigh 29 lbs. or 51% of the total kit - 57 lbs. These are such awkward instruments that they demand a large box for the comparatively small space occupied, the spanners and tools conveniently fitting into the spare space. If these six were disposed elsewhere on the car, it would be possible to make a much shallower tool box on the running-board and the kit would be readily accessible. There is no material alteration in the tool kit of the S.S. from the Phantom chassis. contd :- | ||