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).
Minutes of a daily conference discussing American operations and a letter from Mr. Belnap.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\6\ Scan189 | |
| Date | 29th September 1920 | |
| MINUTES OF DAILY CONFERENCE 29th SEPTEMBER 1920. Present - Ser. Mr. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} Mr.Maddocks (in place of EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}) Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copies to - R.{Sir Henry Royce} CJ. C. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Hor. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ----------------- (1) AMERICA. The Conference met today to discuss Mr.Belnap's letter dated Sept.18th.1920, to Mr.Claude Johnson, referring to minutes passed by Derby Conference on August 27th. and 30th. 1920. In Mr.Belnap's letter he states he, on Jan.31st. wrote giving us information as follows - "It has been necessary to work to some program. With the above facts, we could start some production by the second week in June; start assembling by the first week in September; the first chassis on test the third week in October." The Committee would like to state - (1) Mr.Belnap does not say to whom this letter was addressed. (2) We at the Works, after making a very careful search, can find no trace of it, nor have we any trace of the print prepared by Mr.Sadle in July 1919. Possibly these were sent to London and not forwarded by them on to the Works. The Committee feel that even if they had had knowledge of Mr.Belnap's letter of 31st Jan. it would not have affected the situation. Derby conference think that the chief cause of trouble was U.S.A. wishing to put other devices on their cars than we do at Derby. Just to give a few examples of this - Btn.1/D16.1.20. Possibility of fitting Bosch type Starter and Lighting sets. Letter from Cy. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} dated Feb. 4th. - relating to Bijou Dynamos. Cable from Cy. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} dated May 5th. re enquiries as to progress of tests on Bijou Generator, etc. and asking permission to order 100 Bijous. | ||