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).
Meeting notes from Derby regarding production schedules, Wraith model issues, and costs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161a\2\ scan0312 | |
| Date | 24th November 1938 | |
| Notes of Meeting held at Derby on 22nd November, 1938. Present: Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} BY Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} Gry{Shadwell Grylls} Hy{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} H.R.Smith Ll.Smith LA{L. A. Archer} Les Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Before taking the items on the Agenda a discussion took place on the question of output and the substitution of Wraiths for P.III's, which latter according to the last schedule were due to be put into production at the end of the "M" series Bentleys. RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} is to submit to Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} his proposals for transposing the Phantoms for production during April and May with the Wraiths due for production in June, July and August. WRAITH 1. Cracked Valve Seats It was decided to scrap the 6-cylinder heads of the original design, which has now been superseded. The value of the scrap, which involves 202 cylinder heads, amounts to £2000. - see RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}1/MC21.IO.38 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} enquired how much testing had been done of the new head design to avoid cracked valve seats. It was reported that six had so far been tried but they thought it was necessary for several more to be tested before they were able to confirm complete satisfaction with it. Nevertheless, the tests so far have proved that they were all right. 2. Costs. A very lengthy discussion took place under this heading, and the costs so far known show a difference per chassis of £2.6.0. in favour of the Wraith over the previous 25/30. It was clear however from the discussion that there were further possibilities in this direction, as time, i.e. labour was being reduced all the while. | ||