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).
Investigation into the cost of Bentley's road springs compared to the 40/50 model, and a proposal to test B. and D. shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154\1\ scan0038 | |
| Date | 4th April 1932 | |
| (Handwritten top left) Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} (Handwritten top center) X3873.- To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to EH. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Mr. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} re Springing. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}12/E4.4.32 As the result of our investigation into Bentley's we found that they had been buying their road springs from Messrs. Woodhead and we paying a price which roughly was something about half what we have been paying to Firth's. In saying this I am comparing the cost of their 8-litre road springs with those of our 40/50. The difference per car was something like £15, i.e. £6,000 per annum on our former output of 8 chassis a week, which I am sure you will agree is a very substantial figure. I thought that the next interesting point would be to ascertain from the Manager of the Repair and Service Department what sort of complaints they had in regard to springing, which, as you know, has for years been one of our most troublesome and expensive features. He was asked to give particulars of complaints and to summarize them into categories, and to my surprise he says that they practically have none! I attach copy of his memo. on this subject. It certainly looks as if we ought to get hold of a set of the B. and D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} shock absorbers with a view to examining them and experimenting with them. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Enc. Copy of Memo. from Mr.Pike. | ||