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).
Lack of progress on car work and outlining a future work programme.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0088 | |
| Date | 29th October 1935 | |
| To RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} X1260 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}7/KW.29.10.35. Progress of Car Work Generally. We have repeatedly heard statements made by Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} that SpectreCodename for Phantom III progress has not been affected in the least by Aero work. From the rate at which car work is progressing we find it difficult to agree with this. While appreciating all your difficulties with regard to accommodation, we believe it is true to say that more pits and more room were available for car work 4 years ago than there are to-day. For 3 or 4 months now we have made repeated requests that 5 pits should be available for car experimental work in the shop, as opposed to building new chassis. This is not an absurd requeste because these used to be available 2 or 3 years ago and it was appreciated that 6 pits were required when the shop was built. Instead of 5 pits we now have 2 available for experimental and maintenance work. A third pit is being used for the erection of new SpectreCodename for Phantom IIIs, the other 3 being occupied by Fitters, mostly on Aero work. While this situation exists, research work must be largely at a stand-still. If we take the 2 pits available we can say definitely that SpectreCodename for Phantom III 1 will be more or less continuously in the shop for chunking and steering tests, and that the other bay will be occupied by 33-EX to be brought up-to-date, which will be followed by 34-EX and then 35-EX. The following programme represents the work which is actually waiting for the opportunity for the cars to be got into the shop :- (1) Buick. Design Dept. have been asking for a complete strip and examination of this car for about 6 months. At present it is being used for chunking tests in the transmission, but had space been available there have been periods during the last 6 months when it was not being usefully employed and could have been put in the shop. | ||