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).
Meeting minutes discussing vehicle design modifications, engine development, taxation impacts, and sales strategy.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\2\ Scan084 | |
| Date | 6th October 1932 | |
| -2- moment. The hand control as on 19-G.IV. or some modification of it would probably be suitable for the time being. Item 4 on Agenda. Re First Speed Modification. Not discussed as Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} already has the information required. Item 5 on Agenda. Progress of J.II. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} reported on the progress of design. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} said that they were now busy getting out a specification to be agreed upon for J.II. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} produced a long list of design alterations required and new work necessary before J.II can be put in hand. Item 6 on Agenda. Future of Big Car Development. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}9/KTSG.9.32. was referred to by Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints}/HP.6.10.32. was read by him. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} said H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} should put up to R.{Sir Henry Royce} an agreed and combined suggestion bearing on Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s previous remarks regarding taxation. It was suggested that two separate bores seem to be required to suit different classes of customer requiring different performances, and the customer who requires the higher performance will have the larger bore and pay a higher tax. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} was definite in his view that from a sales' aspect the tax must be below £50 and the nearer to £40 the better, but it may be permissible to have alternative cylinder bores, as mentioned above, and the larger one may then exceed the ideal tax already referred to. Item 7 on Agenda. "Bensport" generally. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} referred to a memo from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} of the 30th ultimo and then quoted from C's note of January last giving the reasons for the size of "Bensport" engine being made what it was. The conditions and reasons are the same to-day. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} also showed a photograph of the Park Ward mock-up car to "Bensport" dimensions and outline, and asked what the conference thought would be the effect on Sales of 20/25 if "Bensport" was fitted with J.I. engine as suggested by Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} He said that he personally felt sure that it would seriously cripple sales of 20/25, and as the 20/25 is our best seller by a very long way we could not afford to take the risk of injuring its excellent reputation and goodwill. It was agreed that the J.I. unit now in chassis 19-G.IV. should be taken out and fitted into "Bensport" as soon as possible for trial, subject to R.{Sir Henry Royce} not raising any objection after being written to by Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} informing him of the proposal and giving the reasons for same, i.e., difficulties and probable troubles with superchargers, etc. | ||