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).
Secret memo discussing the importance of secrecy for a new chassis and special speed model, including key management and the potential financial impact of rumors.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\4\ scan0162 | |
Date | 20th March 1924 | |
SECRET. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from CJ. Referring to my Memo. as to secrecy in connection with chassis having EAC. engines, CJ15/E21/1/24, I am afraid that I did not make it clear that there should be only one key in connection with the lock of a chassis and that key should not fit the lock of any other bonnet. My reason for wishing this to be the rule is that, if there are two keys, it is difficult to fix responsibility for an incident, whereas, if there is only one key, the person holding the key is responsible for the secrecy so long as he holds it. There are two keys in connection with the chassis which PN{Mr Northey} took to the South of France. Please make it clear in writing, in handing over the key of a secret chassis, that secrecy is of vast importance to the shareholders and to those who enjoy a proportion of the profits of the Company, as want of care might affect the finances of the Company to the extent of £100,000 profit in one year. There is no doubt that some day, perhaps 6 months hence, we may have to confess that we are contemplating bringing out a special speed model with an engine with overhead valves and there is no doubt that from that date our business will be very considerably upset financially. Until the date arrives when we are forced to make the announcement, it is of the utmost importance that no official of the Company should be guilty of doing anything which might hasten that date. On the contrary they should take every precaution to prevent the public from imagining that there is any foundation whatever for the rumour which may arise - it is admitted - from the fact that a thinking man may come to the conclusion that, as we have brought out an up-to-date 20 HP chassis, the date cannot be far distant when we are bound to bring out an up-to-date 40/50 HP chassis. If anything were done by the Company which would lead people to believe that there is foundation for such rumours, such an act might mean a loss of £20,000 worth of orders per week for some considerable period. The holder of the key should send, in an envelope marked 'Secret', addressed to me, or in my absence to the General Manager, daily a return showing:- Firstly, a precise record of the people who were driven on this | ||