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).
Summary of a conference discussing the proposed small chassis, engine production priorities, and chassis length specifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\6\ Scan225 | |
| Date | 24th November 1920 | |
| X 2924 RAC Re Conference 24 11 20 COPY. from H CJ2/DL.24.11.20. My Dear R.{Sir Henry Royce}, Referring to R4/G17.11.20 your specification of the proposed small chassis was examined in the conference at Derby this afternoon. It was thought that the proposed tyres would be too small, and you are asked kindly to give consideration to this suggestion. As regards track, those at the conference who have had experience in driving cars in the Colonies, and those who have had experience in selling cars for the Colonies, feel that it is indispensable that the track should be not less than 4'6" wide. We must look forward to the fact that we are going to sell at least one-third of our output overseas. In view of the fact that if we are unable to sell more than at the rate of 1,000 of the large chassis a year from August next, we shall be losing in respect of establishment charges ........ a working day, until we are able to deliver the new chassis, the feeling is. Firstly, that all work on the Buzzard and the Vulture should be stopped in all departments; Secondly, that an examination should be made as to what other designing or experimental work is being carried on, with a view to putting a stop to anything which is indispensable; Thirdly, that all hands in the Designing Department, Pattern Making Department, Experimental Department, Order Office and all spare capacity in the Works, should be concentrated on the production of the new Goshawk at the earliest possible date. You will have noted that the Eagle took practically 18 months before it was being delivered in any numbers. The Eagle was, of course, a War measure and was delivered in a more or less experimental state, whilst the new Goshawk will have to be perfected before we can put it in the hands of customers. Please do not ask that any further examination should be made of other people's chassis, with a view to ascertaining whether they could be made cheaper than our chassis. The Technical Department are quite satisfied that the Lanchester, for instance, could not be made cheaper than the present R.R. Chassis. The feeling of the conference as regards the suggestion that there should be only one length of the present big chassis, viz., the longer length, is that this is a suggestion which should not be adopted before we are delivering the new small chassis. We propose, therefore, with your approval, to arrange that the next 500 chassis, which will be turned out in May next, should still be of the shorter length, with a few of the longer length when specially required for foreign countries, and other purposes. Yours sincerely, CJ. | ||