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).
Experimental costs, project sheet criteria, and the development of specific engine components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0283 | |
| Date | 4th February 1938 | |
| 1260 also Rn{Mr Robinson}'s Policy HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}8/R.4.2.38. With reference to your two notes HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}2/EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} 28.1.38. and HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}3/EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}28.1.38. we appreciate that you are as keen as we are on keeping down experimental costs, and that this is the objective which prompts your suggestions. We have, however, thoroughly discussed the question of project sheets with Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} As we pointed out to him, if the project sheet could be made a reason for holding up ordinary experimental work, then we could not accept responsibility for development work proceeding satisfactorily. In view of this fact, Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} agreed that no experiment which cost less than £100 should be the subject for a project sheet, and this is clearly stated in Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/LSL/T 5.7.37. He also agreed that where it was doubtful as to whether an experiment would cost over £100, it should be left to my discretion as to whether to make it a project, or not. Obviously, under these circumstances, the Wraith cylinder blocks do not come under the heading of a 'project'. We should be glad, therefore, if you would go right ahead and machine one of the cylinder blocks with chilled bores, one with a percentage of chrome in the iron, and the others to remain as spares in case of scrap. With regard to the induction pipe SCD 417, we shall be glad if you will go ahead with this, but it should be made with a minimum of expenditure, i.e., temporary patterns. We realise that with the volume of work going through, and the rate at which development is proceeding, there is considerable danger of parts in process of manufacture being rendered obsolete before they are completed. We are circulating a note to all technical assistants to ask them to be particularly careful to watch such pieces, but, at the same, we should much appreciate your bringing to our notice any pieces which you think may have been overlooked. We think that a marked saving in experimental work could be achieved by the use of steel or aluminium bronze castings for small levers, and also that the life of such levers could almost invariably be determined by static tests before being put on the road. We believe that you are already doing all that you can in this way. | ||