Confirming the decision to halt design work on the Heron chassis and prioritize the Seagull project.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 183\M22\ img252 | |
| Date | 18th January 1923 | |
| PNEU FWB HERON(Experimental 6 CYL OHV 40/50 WITH PNEUMATIC F.W.B. air pump on camshaft, then Servo) WOUND UP. [STAMP: RECEIVED 4 MAY 1923 H.S] Mr Booth. Mr Plaeth. c. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Mr Coverley. BY4-P18.1.23. HERON(Experimental 6 CYL OHV 40/50 WITH PNEUMATIC F.W.B. air pump on camshaft, then Servo). With reference to the front wheel brake proposal as embodied in the two chassis, Stork(Experimental pneumatic (air) front wheel brakes) and Heron(Experimental 6 CYL OHV 40/50 WITH PNEUMATIC F.W.B. air pump on camshaft, then Servo), Mr Royce has definitely decided that he does not intend to go on with the designs for Heron(Experimental 6 CYL OHV 40/50 WITH PNEUMATIC F.W.B. air pump on camshaft, then Servo), but proposes to push through Seagull(Experimental EAC.1 aka Export chassis, Phantom I engine) earlier in place of same. For quite a number of parts Heron(Experimental 6 CYL OHV 40/50 WITH PNEUMATIC F.W.B. air pump on camshaft, then Servo) and Stork(Experimental pneumatic (air) front wheel brakes) are similar, the main difference being the use of the Servo brake instead of an air pressure system which is used in the Stork(Experimental pneumatic (air) front wheel brakes). In view of this therefore will the D.O. note that except for rounding off small commitments which the Experimental Department may consider necessary, we should not do any further detailing in connection with the Heron(Experimental 6 CYL OHV 40/50 WITH PNEUMATIC F.W.B. air pump on camshaft, then Servo). The Exp. Dept, will of course, make the best of anything they may have done on the Heron(Experimental 6 CYL OHV 40/50 WITH PNEUMATIC F.W.B. air pump on camshaft, then Servo) up to the moment. BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||
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).