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).
Letter concerning the 20 HP chassis body weight policy and criticizing archaic bodybuilder practices.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 181\M9\ img001 | |
| Date | 2nd May 1923 | |
| [Handwritten] 20 HP BODY WEIGHT POLICY! 10 To CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce}(At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence) c. to HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} My dear CJ., Since writing to you yesterday, I think I have come across the reason for our difference of opinion. If the impressions I have received are correct, we cannot sell Goshawks unless fitted with heavy bodies. Our Body and Sales Depts. tell you [strikethrough]I don't know what I am writing about, and had better mind my chassis business.[/strikethrough] The real reason I believe is that a 20 HP. light chassis is not suitable for our business which is only in cars with heavy bodies. If this is so, do not make any more Goshawks unless they can be sold for fitting with bodies proportionate to their capacity [strikethrough]and RR. expectations.[/strikethrough] You will see that I am still consistently advocating a certain policy, the object being to prevent Goshawks attempting to compete with the 40/50, and by failing, spoil the splendid reputation of the RR. Co. The 20 HP. chassis is I think extremely good for its engine size, weight, wheelbase, track etc. It would be a great pity to abandon it, but I would much rather do so than it should do the large chassis business harm. I ask you therefore to take notice of your engineering staff, and not discourage them from pointing out what they think serious faults. The impressions given by me are shared with others, but they are possibly led by me. I do not believe for one moment that suitable closed bodies cannot be made for the 20 HP. chassis, but that unless we (RR.) look into or control the matter, the coachbuilder [underlined](ordinary English)[/underlined] interests and habits are such that he will continue as we find, fitting up [underlined]heavy[/underlined] timbers crudely put together either weakly or with unscientific iron work, quite different to the chassis iron-work or that used by aeroplane constructors. I believe engineers must associate. Kindly refer to the past for results - RR. sheet [strikethrough]metal[/strikethrough] steel step-irons, (now nearly universal) splasher supports, lamp carriers, wheel carriers, etc. Yours v.{VIENNA} sincerely, (Sd.) F.H. Royce. [Handwritten] R's SCATHING COMMENTS ON ARCHAIC PRACTISES BY BODYBUILDERS. | ||