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).
The disposition of test equipment in the Experimental Department, detailing issues with the garage and Cold Chamber.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 155\3\ scan0059 | |
| Date | 26th March 1936 | |
| To Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}7/KW.26.3.36. Disposition of Test Equipment in Experimental Dept. In view of the fact that the Cold Chamber will shortly be completed we should like you to consider the general layout of the test section of the Experimental Dept. We find it most difficult at present to run the job satisfactorily; in fact state definitely that we can be criticised for being inefficient. With the Shardlow premises in continuous use as they are at present, there is a serious waste of time, apart from the expense of transport to and fro, and we had always hoped that this would be a temporary arrangement only and at the earliest possible moment would be substituted by facilities for the equipment there to be transferred to the Experimental Dept. The position at present is as follows :- (1) Garage. The garage is just big enough for our existing requirements. Even so, owing to the fact that its depth is great in comparison to its frontage, quite a lot of time is wasted moving cars about to get them in and out. Also, as we have previously pointed out, there are no facilities for getting exhaust fumes out of the garage, and the entrance is anything but convenient. It must be appreciated that when we say we can manage with the existing floor space the situation is still that if we try to get all our experimental cars into the garage at once, several would have to be left standing outside. (2) Cold Chamber. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} has refused to agree that the Cold Chamber shall go in the position discussed some months ago. We also say that it is out of the question to occupy any of the existing garage space with the Cold Chamber. With regard to the suggestion that if the Cold Chamber was put in the existing garage, the room so occupied could be made up by knocking down the wall to give access to the ex Sand-Blast shop, we would point out that we have been promised this room since September of last year but do not yet see any signs of getting it. The outside space facing the old Experimental yard is WANTED for test beds and blower test rigs. | ||