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).
Procurement and cost issues of Nitralloy Steel crankshaft stampings from suppliers Firth and Vickers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\1\ scan0188 | |
| Date | 3rd January 1930 | |
| To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from ROY.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Rg.{Mr Rowledge} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ------------------ ROY{Sir Henry Royce}18/MG3.1.30 ------------------ You will recollect, early this year, it was suggested we should try out certain details,- particularly Crankshafts Stampings - in Nitralloy Steel. Firth's manufacturing arrangements at that date were somewhat involved, and the Vickers Company stated they were prepared to make such Crankshaft Stampings in Nitralloy Steel at our standard figure, and indemnify us against any possibility of patent action. BY felt we should go to Firths for such Stampings, and finally Firths offered to supply the stampings in question at a figure not exceeding that of Vickers, and undertook to give reasonable delivery. Order No. 88064 for the Crankshaft Stampings in question was placed with Messrs. Firth on 25.3.29, but delivery was not effected until 6 months later (September), and now we are faced with a debit from Messrs. Firth for the stampings themselves at a figure twice or three times that of Messrs. Vickers, in addition to which we shall be receiving a further debit in due course covering the cost of nitriding the Cranks themselves after machining here. Will BY please supply the reference to Firth's offer, or some data so that we can take up this matter of debit with them. Meantime, as already advised, various firms in this Country are producing similar Steels and nitriding is being carried out without any reference whatever to Messrs. Firth. ROY.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||