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).
Comparing the prices of alloy steels from various suppliers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0258 | |
| Date | 21th December 1937 | |
| Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} RE: PRICES OF ALLOY STEELS. Following the discussion on the above subject at the Chassis Conference, I visited Firths and explained our requirements as outlined in BY.1/G.19.11.37. and followed this up by obtaining quotations for 1¾" bar (this size agreed upon as being a fair average) from Messrs. Brown Bayleys, Hadfields, English Steel Corporation, and Samuel Fox & Co. Ltd. These four firms all quoted exactly the same prices, which upon enquiry I found to be the lowest prices that any member of the Alloy Steel Association were permitted to quote. In asking for quotations from firms other than Firth-Browns, in order to keep a straight issue before us, I asked them to quote under two headings only :- (a). Electric Steel - commercial condition. (b). Siemens Steel - " " as if one permitted inspection to become a factor, the only firm who really knew our requirements in this direction would be Firth-Browns, and we would not obtain dependable figures. It is necessary to keep within the Alloy Steel Association, as outside of this I cannot find a firm upon whose experience and good faith I would be prepared to rely. In the following comparisons I am dealing with each class of steel separately as being the clearest method of setting out the facts :- (a). 3½% Nickel Steel. This forms 60% of our requirements. | Method of melting. | Firths prices. | Alloy Steel Assn. prices. | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Electrically melted. | £37.18.7d. | £37. 0. 6d. | | Open Hearth Siemens process. | £34. 2.0. | £31.10. 6d. | In this steel there is a difference of 2½% in favour of Alloy Steel Assoc'n price for electrically melted steel, reckoned as | ||