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).
Design simplification and production strategy for the Wraith model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 6\6\ 06-page096 | |
| Date | 17th December 1936 | |
| a.{Mr Adams} to Mr [redacted] from RPS. b. to Mr [redacted] c. to Mr [redacted] d.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} to Mr [redacted] WRAITH. We have been requested to build three complete cars and one bumper chassis, our commitments to date being two complete sets of material on order. We are, however, strongly of the opinion that, at this stage, before going too far with the production of the first two cars, attention should be given quickly to certain points which have already been taken up with Design, namely:- (1) Simplification of hand brake and change speed mechanism. (2) Gear box requires overhauling from the manufacturing standpoint and checking up for comparison of costs with 25/30 HP. and Phantom III. Also the question of interchangeability of parts should be carefully considered with a view to standardisation of as many features as possible which can be made common to Bentley, Wraith and Phantom III boxes. (3) Simplification of rear dumb irons and shackles. (4) Reduction in the number of engine gears. Having in mind what is expected from Wraith, and considering that the basis of the design was laid down some 18 months ago, we would urge that the whole chassis be reviewed at this stage by S. and particularly BY, whilst there is still time to remodel the design on lines which will facilitate manufacture and reduce production costs. As regards detailing, for instance, more consideration ought to be given to machining problems, not only from the point of view of eliminating unnecessary machining but also with the object of introducing machining operations wherever possible in order to minimise hand work. If Wraith is eventually to become an economically sound proposition, development must proceed with this object firmly in mind, and for this reason we say, that number three chassis assembly must present better manufacturing possibilities than the second, and so on, otherwise we shall continue to drift again; patterns made - dies sunk - outside suppliers involved, and the usual rush started with everyone more concerned with quality | ||