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).
Outlining a proposed programme for the 'Silver Ripple Project', discussing full-scale production and design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 118\1\ scan0359 | |
| Date | 2nd December 1943 | |
| 1022 To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c.c. to Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames} Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/RG.{Mr Rowledge}10/JH.2.12.43. Silver Ripple Project. Last month, you will recall that you requested a proposed programme for the above project. This I can only draw up at some length, but appended herewith you will find my suggestions. 1. For a full scale production, based on the estimated figure of 5,000 sets, it will be necessary to reproduce the full size draft in detail form and from this compile a complete set of detail drawings. (a) The full size draft should to give the most satis-factory results be made on painted aluminium steel sheet. This practice is quite normal with producers of quantity production bodies (i.e. Vauxhall, P.S.Co., Briggs, etc.) Further it must be stressed that the usual practice is a horizontal trestle table on which the aluminium sheet is laid. This enables more men to be actively working on the draft and taking off details and checking. As a partial contradiction to this you will appreciate that no more than 2 men can work on the draft in the initial stages. That is until the basic outlines and surfaces are developed - time 2 to 3 weeks. At any time during this initial stage the draft can be temporarily fixed to a vertical board for reviewing and approval by departmental heads, sales or who you will. (b) Basic design versus existing tools. The features of the Ripplet that it was suggested should be applied to the B.V. will to some extent neutralise the larger panel forming tools already in existance. I mean of course the sharpened front and rear corners and the Myth type boot. Further, you will note that the Ripplet body with these features is smaller than the B.V., a matter of approx. 1" all round. While this is not of vital importance in design or perhaps I should say that it is more a question of personal taste than anything else, it may well be worth consideration on the score of weight saving. A decision in favour of the smaller body would probably mean that the tools etc. are a complete write off. | ||