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).
Intelligence gathering on competitor parts and a potential patent infringement issue.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 170\2\ img004 | |
| Date | 15th January 1931 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}!3/WJ.15.1.31. I would like to write to Oy. for certain information. (1) We would like to know why the Delco people are giving up making the twin cylinder type shock absorbers, as our new shock absorber is very similar to theirs. It would save us lots of time and money if we knew why they dropped it. (2) We want to know what reliability they have with the 'Delco' generator, which has a thermostat control and third brush. I also want to keep in touch with Oy. because without being the least dis-loyal to Cadillac, he is in a wonderful position to let us know the trend of U.S.A. development. I do not want to ask for information from Oy. unless we are prepared to reciprocate and let him have general information on the trend of designs on this side. Oy. has already asked me for information on two points. Attached herewith his memos. On the question of Quickstep Steel I find that we have already replied to General Motors on this matter through F1. In the case of the Mechanic's joints, the joint we are using on Phantom II and the 25 HP. are exact copies of the Mechanic's joints. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} says that they were scaled from the Mechanic's joints. I do not know the patent position, but if they have any patents it is certain that we are infringing them. We cannot prevent them getting to know what joints we are fitting and it would appear to me that the most straight forward way would be to let them have the drawings. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||