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).
Internal memorandum clarifying a misunderstanding regarding the specification of a new petrol tank gauge for the Phantom model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 69\4\ scan0058 | |
| Date | 11th June 1926 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from BJ. Copy to Wsr. Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copy to PN.{Mr Northey} Copy to CWB. Copy to H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Copy to BP. Copy to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X8770 Phantom Criticisms. BJ6/E11/6/26 With reference to R4/M10/6/26, some strange misunderstanding has obviously arisen so I will set out the facts. 1. BY wrote (BY7/H17/5/26) indicating that a larger petrol gauge dial would not be on the new tank. 2. As it is often impossible for any one official to know the exact history of correspondence extending over many months between departments concerning a development, H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} prepared a summary in order that BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} and I might understand how, when and why Sales had suggested from December 1925 onwards that, if possible, a different dial should be included whilst the new tank was being designed. 3. This summary I sent to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} to look through, as I thought it might help him to ascertain and inform Sales when they might expect the larger dial and why Sales had hoped it would be introduced with the new tank. 4. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} replied to BJ that he had no instructions from WW to fit the larger dial. 5. As I looked on the matter as being of no great importance, but thought WW might be able to send a few words to give Sales some idea of how the matter stood, I sent the papers to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} with the following written across them:- 'Please return these papers to me. Can you or E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} please tell me the position? I want to avoid troubling R.{Sir Henry Royce} if possible.' I do not know who has threatened to hold up the improvements to the Petrol Tank you have made until you could make it all that is thought desirable. It would seem to me altogether wrong to make any such hold-up, especially as all officials have signed the standardisation sheet and I presume, therefore, that it is now in production. I have always fully appreciated and explained to Sales officials that all improvements in design must take their turn according to their importance, and those items, that are dangerous or a serious risk to our reputation, must take precedence and other improvements follow in due course. | ||