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).
Minutes of a daily conference discussing the adoption of left-hand steering.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\6\ Scan179 | |
| Date | 9th September 1920 | |
| Ht/M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} 9/9/20. MINUTES OF DAILY CONFERENCE. 7TH SEPT., 1920. Present - Hr. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} EY. Copies to - R.{Sir Henry Royce} CJ. C. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} Hr. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} (1) RE LEFT HAND STEERING. (1) The Committee have met twice to discuss the above and have come to the conclusion that it is impracticable to adopt the left hand steering on the present chassis. The chief reason for this being that to redesign and test the present chassis for left hand steering will unquestionably seriously delay the new design of chassis, which is considered to be absolutely essential to the future of R.R.Ltd. (2) The Committee do not think that the small amount of left hand steering cars required should stand in the way of the new design. (3) The Committee are of the opinion that R.R.Ltd. would have plenty of warning before Legislation in U.S.A. against left hand steering became effective. (4) They also consider that the expense incurred to make this change has not been fully weighed up, and bring forward the following points for consideration - (a) It would be necessary for Derby to make left hand steering cars of all types, either present or future. (b) This would entail enormous expense, in increase of dies, patterns, jigs, tools etc. probably amounting to 50% of the present car. (c) And also an increase in both the Design, Production and Tool Offices to probably 35%. (d) And also the Experimental Dept. would have to be increased very considerably, probably for a short period would have to be doubled. | ||