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).
Leather supply for prototype cars with Connolly Bros.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 109\2\ scan0338 | |
| Date | 15th December 1943 | |
| -2- Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/RG.{Mr Rowledge}6/JH.15.12.43. Contact was also made with Messrs. Connolly Bros. for leather supplies. I am assured that there will be no difficulty in obtaining supplies for our prototype cars. With certain restrictions (full details of which I am expecting by post) leather hides, were supplied to the Rover Co. pre-war at 11.d. per foot. Adopting the same restrictions and using similar quantities, we could of course buy leather for the same price. Mr. Connolly put up a strong sales talk for the use of natural fully grained hides. To quote him, he says that while the hide will shew certain imperfections (i.e. growth marks etc) that is the only safe guarantee the customer will have that his car is trimmed with leather. Also he stressed the point that the plates for printing the various grains were obtainable from Germany only, and the plates in stock would sooner or later need replacement. I agree with him on both points, but Sales must be educated to this fact. On the one hand the natural grained leather is probably nicer, while on the other hand we may not be able to obtain printed hides anyway. Our requirements for the prototype vehicles will probably cost 1/4 1/2d per foot owing to war conditions. Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/RG{Mr Rowledge} | ||