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).
10,000-mile test of the Goshawk express car and its implications for the first 50 chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan073 | |
| Date | 31th March 1922 | |
| TEST DEPT. X4086 To (EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}). from BJ. 31 MAR. 22 BJ4/H31.3.22. Handwritten: Miss Gill, Let me have copy. EPS/LS 31.3.22, also CEP, X4219, X4085 GOSHAWK. RECEIVED Confirming my telephone conversation of this morning, briefly my suggestions are as follow:- That it would be a great mistake to stop running the 10,000 miles express car, as it probably contains 99% of the parts which will be delivered for the first 50 Goshawks. Possibly 1% of the chassis will have to be altered. These alterations could be made on the second car which you will be sending to France next week and these alterations could be tested as quickly as possible on that second car. The car which Mr. Hives is using could be utilised for experimenting with further improvements which will be incorporated in the first 50 chassis. Please let me know how many miles the express car has so far run and when it will complete its 10,000 miles. In dictating this message to a typist, I asked her to request you to telephone to me on receipt of the message. There seems necessity for us to keep clearly in our minds that these tests are for two purposes:- 1. To make sure that the first 50 cars are sufficiently satisfactory to sell; 2. To test for improvements, which need not be incorporated in the first 50. But the 10,000 miles tests should be made for the first 50 are of the utmost urgency and if all cars are sent backwards and forwards to Derby, it will be difficult to know when such cars might be completed. In running one car straight away for 10,000 miles, we shall at least know how the 99% of the parts are going to stand up, even if 1% of them have to be altered and tested separately. There is one point in our favour as far as duration of test goes, and that is that the lock-out will unfortunately delay the delivery of the first 50 and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} may be able to prove to C.J. that the tests can be made on the lines suggested by you without a continuous express 10,000 miles. | ||