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).
Letter to supplier Connolly Brothers regarding the quality and colour matching of leather hides and rexine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 117\3\ scan0459 | |
| Date | 24th May 1941 | |
| 1021 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/EAG.2/RH{R. Hollingworth} F.A.Connolly Esq., Messrs. Connolly Brothers, Wandle Bank, Wimbledon, LONDON. S.W.19. Dear Mr. Connolly, Thank you for your letter of May 15th with reference to the hides which we received yesterday. I am sorry that the match with the rexine which we have, is not at all good, and as you say, I think you can do better. It appears to me that the base colour is definitely not the correct shade and the green is not bright enough. On the cutting I recently sent, a small piece which was cut from the edge of the leather cloth showing the ground colour was pinned to it. As I think it will give your people a better opportunity to get a better match, I am sending under separate cover a piece the full width of the cloth just over half a yard long, which please return after you have made use of it. My reason for asking you to return it is that as you may guess, this material is very valuable in view of the fact that we have only a small amount. The hides which you sent are beautifully soft, but lack the usual pronounced grain of the Luxan hide. I imagine the reason for this is that in keeping them soft, you have avoided printing too deeply, but now that you have a sample of the leather cloth which shows one part deeply embossed and the other plainer, you will be able to get a better match. I am sorry to have to put you to this bother, but I am sure you will appreciate the importance of it. I was glad to hear that you were left unscathed at Wimbledon during the Saturday night's raid and hope that you will continue to be fortunate. My family have been -Over- | ||