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).
Negotiations with suppliers over the manufacture of front springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\3\ scan0102 | |
| Date | 1st September 1924 | |
| Wd{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead}5/U1.9.24. E.A.C. 111 Front Axle. -2- I think it is not improbable that Mr. Bernard Firth may call upon you in London. From Firths I proceeded to Woodheads, where I am sorry to say I faced a much more difficult task. I was received by Mr. Woodhead personally and had a most disagreeable interview. At the end of an hour Mr. Woodhead still declined to entertain the manufacture of special front springs for Rolls-Royce and it appeared to be impossible to persuade him to take a different decision. However, eventually he agreed to make us 10 pairs of springs for Experimental Department, on conditions that when we have finally decided what pattern of front spring will be used as standard on our E.A.C.111 axle, his firm shall be given an order for 100 pairs of such springs. I agreed to this condition as there was no alternative and I shall have to justify my action to Firths. Woodheads then proceeded to criticize the design of spring and suggested that the main leaf (main plate) be made somewhat thinner than our drawing indicates. This point was submitted to By and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} at these Works on Saturday last and they agreed that Woodheads should proceed as they proposed, and should in addition send us six main leaves (main plates) of the thickness shown on our drawing to enable us to change to thicker plates if our tests showed this necessary or advisable. Mr. Woodhead promised that the 10 pairs of springs for Experimental Department shall be despatched to us by passenger train on Friday next, 5th. inst. I attach hereto copy of letter from Woodheads dated 30th. ult. confirming the arrangement. During my conversation with Mr. Woodhead I asked him whether he would be prepared to grant a license to Firths to manufacture his (Woodheads) clip. He replied in the negative but after some discussion he stated, that if we would agree to certain condition he would impose he would be prepared to discuss with Firths the question of supplying them with clips and undertake to forge the clip plates. The condition is that we should give Woodheads an undertaking | ||