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).
Policy on running experimental cars and the value of having officials test them.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 123\4\ scan0030 | |
| Date | 9th May 1931 | |
| 8180 To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hsl/ADl9.5.31. RUNNING EXPERIMENTAL CARS. Referring to our conversation the other day in which you stated that in future experimental cars should not be run by anyone outside the experimental dept., we should like to have one or two rulings upon this point. We may be asked to supply a car in order to meet people at the station, or for Rg.{Mr Rowledge} or Ey. to go to lunch. Also we may be asked by EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} or Lr.{Mr Ellor} for the use of a car to visit an aerodrome or an aircraft firm. In these cases, must the officials concerned always obtain your permission? There are also times when we should like either Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} or EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}'s opinion on a car - the most convenient time for them to try it may be either in the evening or at weekends. I personally consider the question of restricting the use of cars is a very doubtful economy. At the present time we do not cover enough mileage on our cars so that if we cut out the private mileage we still ought to run the same number of miles but would have to pay testers to do it. From the Company's point of view it is far more valuable to get the cars run by responsible officials like Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} and EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} than by anyone else. I am sure the job is going to suffer is this restriction is enforced. In the case of P.2, although we have had our troubles I maintain that P.2. as a complete new car went through on production easier than any previous job we have had; this, in a way, I attribute to the fact that we got Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} and EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} keenly interested. They joined in the tests in France and were generally encouraged to give their criticisms by running the cars. I can already sense an atmosphere that if they are not going to be allowed to run the cars then they will keep away from them altogether. We know from experience that to introduce new features and to get them through without any trouble, the secret is to get EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} and Sales' criticisms early. | ||