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).
Selection of leather upholstery for a Long Experimental Car, 38-EX.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 92\1\ scan0298 | |
| Date | 17th October 1936 | |
| Handwritten: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}' Ex A dark leather is best if the Car is to be used experimentally Rn{Mr Robinson} Please return W HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} X304 Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders}10/MK.17.10.36. Stamped: RECEIVED 23 OCT 1936 Typed: Long Experimental Car, 38-EX. Your Ref: E/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/MN.14.10.36. We are quite agreeable to the exterior of this car being dark maroon and black and we have asked Park Ward to send you direct a panel of the maroon they employed on C's car and which we think rather nice. The 20/25 H.P. Enclosed Limousine on our own stand at Olympia is finished in the same colour. You may have noticed it. As regards the upholstery, we are not sure that brown leather is the best with a maroon and black exterior, but would prefer a maroon leather either to exactly match the maroon of the exterior or a shade lighter. We have asked Park Ward to send you some cuttings of maroon leathers which can be obtained quickly. Maroon leather can be just as soft as brown. Park Ward are no longer able to obtain the really soft non-waterproof brown hide they used to go in for and, in any case, it was not perhaps ideal for an experimental car because it would stain on coming into contact with water. The brown hide they now obtain goes through virtually the same processes as coloured leathers. There are, of course, varied methods of treating leathers and some of the methods result in hard surfaces but if, at the time the order is placed, a specially soft finish is called for it can usually be obtained. Please let us know in due course what is decided. Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} | ||