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).
Suggestions for new projects, including a rationalised car range, a commercial lorry, and manufacturing tractors under license.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\2\ scan0248 | |
| Date | 18th September 1939 | |
| -3- It should be agreed what design staff we can spare to prepare the new projects, what we can do to get prototypes made, and what steps we can take to get production tools in hand. The following are our suggestions having regard to the scope of the present ministry of supply in this country and the fact that all profits made as a result of re-armament will be ruthlessly taxed. None of the suggestions would be palatable under ordinary circumstances, and they are only advanced for want of a better alternative. RATIONALISED CAR RANGE. (a) That an endeavour should be made forthwith to complete the tooling of the rationalised range of cars, and particularly with regard to adapting machine tools we are likely to have available to fabricate these parts. That Canada or America should be called upon to complete these tools. (b) COMMERCIAL PETROL LORRY. That a 2 - 2 1/2 ton commercial vehicle should be designed utilising the 6 cyl. rationalised engine and remaining parts that cannot be utilised from the rationalised chassis, should follow slavishly, some well proved product like the Bedford & Chevrolet truck and that again the question of adapting the Crew or Glasgow plant to fabricate it should be considered carefully, and American or Canadian assistance called in to complete the necessary tools and fixtures. The sales in England of this class of truck during the past four years were as follows - 1939 - 1938 22,000 1937 24,000 1936 22,000 (c) TRACTORS. That a careful investigation should be made as to which is the best American tractor for English conditions (Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} is in a particularly advantageous position to get this information) and negotiations put in hand for manufacturing it under licence in this country. If successful, that complete tool and jig equipment should be prepared to suit Crew or Glasgow to enable it to be put in production immediately after the war. Eventually we should expect to make a tractor entirely of our own design powered by a two stroke diesel engine, developed from the two stroke petrol injection engine at present under consideration. | ||