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).
Secret memorandum outlining strict procedures for handling bonnet keys for cars with a new engine to prevent financial loss.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\4\ scan0103 | |
| Date | 21th January 1924 | |
| B. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 950 a (20 T) (S.B 9/4. 5-9-19. C). 2470. SECRET. X9770 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from CJ. CJ15/E21/1/24 .................... We are nearing the time when chassis with the new engine may be handed over by your Department to other people. It is very difficult for people, who are not closely associated with the selling position to realise what might be the effect on the finances of the Company of any indiscreet exhibition of the fact that there is a new engine being tried on the road. If this fact is known to one person even under the promise of secrecy, the profits of the Company might be affected to the extent of £100,000 in one year. The shareholders and those members of the staff who rely as to a large proportion of their income on the profits of the Company would have every right to demand the expulsion from the Company of any one who might be guilty of this indiscretion. There must be fitted to every chassis to which there is fitted a new engine a lock to the bonnet. The lock must be such that no other key except the one belonging to it can unlock it. The person in possession of the key is for the time being the officer responsible for seeing that no other person opens the bonnet and that he does not open the bonnet so that its contents can be seen by any second person. If in the exercise of his duty he hands over temporarily or permanently the care of the car to some second person, he must not hand over the key of the bonnet until he has required the person - no matter how highly placed he may be in the Company - (I include myself), firstly, to read a copy of this memorandum and, secondly, to sign a receipt, the wording of which must be as follows:- 'I have received the key of the bonnet of Car No..... . 'I have read CJ's memorandum of the 21st January and realise 'that under no circumstances whatever must I open the bonnet 'in the face of any person, no matter whether that person may be 'my closest friend or relation. 'I realise that I am entrusted with secret knowledge of a very 'precious nature and that by disclosing the secret I may be doing 'vast financial harm to the shareholders and to my colleagues. 'I will not part with the key unless I receive a receipt similar- 'ly worded to the one which I now sign from the person to whom 'I entrust it.' (End of receipt). CJ. | ||