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).
Production and testing of steel castings for the B.III suspension's 15,000-mile test.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\1\ scan0161 | |
| Date | 6th May 1938 | |
| SECRET. HOO HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}12/R.6.5.38. B.III 15,000 MILES' TEST. Referring to HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}2/VS.{J. Vickers}5.5.38., steel castings have fallen down on production because they do not represent the cost saving originally anticipated, and it appears to be difficult to produce them consistently. They seem to have entirely justified their existence as reliable pieces of experimental apparatus. In the case of parts which have successfully completed 50 hours bump tests as steel castings, and this refers to almost every piece of the B.III suspension, we have no hesitation in taking responsibility for such pieces running on a 15,000 mile French test. Any castings used, of course must satisfy your inspectors and be crack tested, etc. It is impossible to reach finality on any parts until a preliminary run in France has been completed. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||