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).
Page discussing design responsibility, testing, and component sourcing between UK and US operations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\6\ Scan114 | |
| Date | 3rd June 1920 guessed | |
| -2- (4) Mr.Royce must be solely responsible for all designs and specifications, and Derby Experimental Department for all experimental research work. America could and should supply samples of certain parts bought out, but if these were proved better than our similar present part we should adopt the part for England and America rather than the suggested policy of using certain units in England and different units in America. Any departure from this vital position would result in two different chassis being built. (5) The 10,000 miles and full experimental tests were considered equally important for America as for England and all parts not so tested must be considered unsuitable until such tests are completed. (6) The average time for a thorough testing out experimentally of a new part was 7 to 8 months. This has been carefully verified by the Experimental Dept. and emphasizes the fact that hasty decisions are invariably faulty ones. (7) In regard to the changes actually suggested by America, at the moment the Conference would like to record the following:- (a) DYNAMO. BLIUR. Neither Mr.Royce nor the Experimental Dept. have ever agreed that this is satisfactory. Mr.Royce and Exp. Dept. all like the type of control, but the dynamo and even the control as carried out is considered clumsy, while the dynamo is very noisy indeed and quite unusable as samples tested so far show. (b) MAGNETO. We have had American Bosch Magnetos from time to time and these have not been comparable with German Bosch. Granted that improvement has been made we cannot agree that from our previous experiences it is likely they have got even near German Bosch. (c) In regard to argument we have had trouble on certain items - this is true of almost every item we use, but it is no reason for flying to different unknown troubles which have always in our experience proved worse than the troubles we are enduring. (8) The fact that America are seeking to import such things as Die Castings, Drop Forgings, Springs etc. will have led us to imagine that they would | ||