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).
Discussion with Dunlop Tyres regarding pricing for the ensuing season.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 158\1\ scan0207 | |
| Date | 30th August 1938 | |
| SECRET 1339. W/S. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} C. to Or. C. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ROY.{Sir Henry Royce}1/B.30.8.38. DUNLOP TYRES ON ROLLS CHASSIS FOR ENSUING SEASON 1.8.38 to 31.7.39. This question was discussed fully with Mr. Shankland yester-day afternoon. 1. I again reminded him of the exceptional offers we had received from others of his competitors and that his colleagues, The India Co., had met such competition. 2. He replied that his Company were not in a position to act as liberally as the India Co. and claimed he was giving the Rolls Co. exceptional service, better than the India Co. 3. The Dunlop Co. were sending representatives to the homes of Rolls owners to confer with them on tyre matters and that Rolls owners frequently brought their cars to the Dunlop Birmingham Works. I claimed the India Co. would do the same, as would his other competitors, should they secure standardisation of the Rolls cars. 4. I pointed out the exceptional advantages his Company were enjoying by the experimental tests we were always making with their various tyres, an advantage he could not secure from the smaller makers, and also the kudos accruing to the Dunlop Co. by standard-isation of their tyres on Rolls-Royce cars, to which his competitors attach such great importance. 5. After further discussion, Mr. Shankland finally agreed to give us reductions as under :- 40/50-HP 2s.6d per tyre 25-HP 2s.5d " " Wraith & Bentley 2s.5d " " and of such reductions 2s.0d per tyre would be credited to us quarterly as a development concession. I am afraid further discussion will not secure any better offer from the Dunlop Co., Mr. Shankland assuring me the other car manufacturers, i.e. Austin Morris, etc, who buy tyres in so much greater quantities than we, were not securing such terms. Are you in agreement we close with them accordingly, please? The chart attached details the present position. (Contd:- ENCLOSURE Nº 617 "JUSTSO" | ||