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).
Letter discussing the critical importance of thoroughly testing and developing a specimen design before starting large scale production.
| Identifier | Morton\M6\ img021 | |
| Date | 8th February 1929 | |
| Top left annotations: C & P Mitchell unit all or nth swelling Top middle annotations: Letter Enclosed for Mr Kenyon & Rudg Ngar to approve (Re Thorough testing & developing standard units) Top right header: A Crucial Main text: Dear Mr Bentley. are you not M.I.E.E. & M.I.M.E. Mr Halley is a little anxious that you propose making a full large number of afterwards current motors for boat cranks on order, I hope you will make one of each size and give it a severe test before launching on a number, unless you are purchasing a well tried model that you know has stood the test and following it exactly. As far as I remember I have not yet seen a design which is complete & undoubtedly sound, as far as my judgement goes, which would still not be safe to start production upon until made experimentally & thoroughly tested. One of the English faults is that the designs are not proved by testing a specimen (which naturally in large work is not possible) and developing it by 'to destruction' overload testing which we at RR call development work, and is an essential feature of our life especially in aero-engines, particularly, I want you to do this for all your standard units, motors, brakes, cubs, transfers &c I beg of you to follow this practice no matter Left margin annotation: Copy to Mr Ward & Mr Scaife (I think it would be good to do so) | ||