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).
1938 and 1939 chassis development budgets, with a breakdown of historical costs and units produced.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\2\ scan0134 | |
| Date | 14th March 1939 | |
| 1260 To Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from HPS. {Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} c.c. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} HPS. {Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} 1/EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} 14.3.39. 1938 and 1939 CHASSIS DEVELOPMENT BUDGETS. For your information the following are the total chassis costs for 1933 to 1937 inclusive :- 1933 the chassis total expense was £57,890. 1934 " " " " £68,509. 1935 " " " " £123,096. 1936 " " " " £65,996. 1937 " " " " £86,887. For the year 1938 a figure of £60,000 was allotted for chassis development. This sum was allocated and expended as follows :- Allocation. Expended. HPS. {Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} Labour .... £30,355 £24,555. HPS. {Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} Material .. £16,645 £11,896. Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Labour .... £ 5,720 £ 7,561. Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Material .. £ 7,280 £ 6,655. Total ..... £60,000 £50,667. The above figures show a saving on the budgetted figure of £9,333. These costs can be regarded with accuracy. During 1938 a very careful check has been kept on the booking of order numbers through the Experimental cost system, and any possibility of aero expenditure creeping into chassis costs has been completely eliminated. During 1938 the following chassis and engine units were produced :- Chassis. Units. Wraith 29-G-VI. Wraith III No.10. Silver Wraith 30-G-VII. Bentley V No.1. Bentley 7-B-V. {VIENNA} Bentley V No.2. Bentley 8-B-V. {VIENNA} Bentley V No.3. continued. | ||