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).
Dissatisfaction with the Lucas Company's electrical equipment and future contract terms.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M1\8\ img005 | |
| Date | 8th July 1921 | |
| To C.J. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to WORKS COMMITTEE. X 4165 X 30141 X 4352 X 4349 RE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT - PARAGRAPH 5 & LONG PARAGRAPH OF MINUTES OF WORKS' COMMITTEE MEETING OF 27/6/21. There seems nothing for you and I to decide until the Works Committee are satisfied that they have the best working arrangement and terms with the Lucas Company, and I have suggested some time ago stopping the production and acceptance of any parts of the Lucas equipment; this I understand has been done. The minutes of the Works' Committee held on the 22nd appear to me too amiable (note the presence of Mr. Lucas and other Lucas director) but the conclusions of the Works Committee held on the 27th June, appear much more satisfactory, and it only seems necessary for us to uphold them. We must be extremely firm in saying that future contracts must be judged and compared on their merits of quality, performance and price, i.e. we must draw a line through the present contract now, and have new prices for an improved equipment. Echo of RB{R. Bowen} 211 a 1971 predicament We consider that Messrs. Lucas have let us into a very bad position, and that we have been over-patient with them, giving them time and continued with their present equipment far longer than we ought to have done. They should have made a good profit from our order, and for our patience we are to be penalised for their shortcomings. It must be clearly understood that even now I have not seen any of the practical parts which are intended should replace the defective ones. I am not sure that the 1" longer dynamo has been run long enough to see whether it is thoroughly satisfactory. For instance, the extra length of armature may increase the vibrations through the deflection of the longer shaft, and so (Contd.) | ||