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 Works Committee meeting discussing the potential cost of a new 15HP model and company turnover.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\6\ Scan263 | |
Date | 9th March 1921 | |
M I N U T E S OF WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING. 9TH MARCH 1921. Present - BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hr. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copies to - R.{Sir Henry Royce} CJ. BJ. C. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hr. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Re. CJ1/E8.3.21. CJ7/E1.3.21. CH9/E2.3.21. (1) What will be the cost of a Rolls Royce 15HP. affording similar seating accomodation to the 15HP Humber, and conforming with R.R. standards of trustworthiness, endurance and economy of running? It is difficult to give even an estimated cost of a Rolls Royce 15HP. chassis, because we have nothing designed in any way for this chassis, but it is thought that, firstly, providing we get a simple design to make, and secondly, would be satisfied with similar kinds of material to that used in the Humber and Wolseley, and still obtain trustworthiness, endurance and economy of running, that it would be possible for us to make a 15HP Rolls Royce, to be sold for about £650. These, of course, would have to be made in quantities of not less than series of 1000. In effect we mean that we can manufacture as cheaply as any of our competitors, but in order to maintain our reputation we should produce a better car, hence the increase of £100 on cost. (2) Why is it necessary, in order that the Company may live, that it should have a turnover of £5,000,000 per annum? Is it considered that this would be the case if a proportion of the Works was closed, and all the economies possible were made in Establishment Charges? (a) The Works Committee realise that they are not financiers but they have always had it pointed out to them since they have been at these Works, and also from the experience of other Works, that it is necessary that the capital of any company should be turned over anyway between three and four | ||