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 minutes discussing gearbox rattle, production costs, and 8-cylinder engine modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161a\1\ scan0025 | |
| Date | 18th July 1939 | |
| - 2 - BY.8/G.18.7.39. (2). Gearbox. cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} the box without commenting on the rattle, in other words, they did not appreciate it was there. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} pointed out finally that we should not risk a failure by introducing a hole in the shaft to avoid possible complaints in regard to the rattle, his view being that he would want more than a dynamometer test to convince him that a shaft with a hole in it was satisfactory, a view BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} concurred in. (3). Gearbox Cost. It was agreed that the box as released for production, that is, without the anti-rattle device was satisfactory and Works should go ahead on this basis. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} went on to point out that he now required from the Cost Department, cost figures along the lines of those already discussed for the production of this type of box in quantities :- (a). For tools as they existed. (b). For a tooling-up scheme where special machines were required. In addition, Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} pointed out that he would like to have the cost of special features, which were included, and which were not in other firms boxes.- (1). The servo drive. (2). The grinding of the gears. his view being that these were extras as compared with other people's production, and he would like to know what price we paid for these refinements, he thought they would be small compared with total cost of the box. (4). Overheads. In regard to the question of overheads, Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} stated we should work on a round figure of 200%. (5). 8 Cylinder Engine. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} pointed out that in connection with the eight cylinder certain changes were being considered in the direction of wider gears and stronger material. As and when the box working in conjunction with an 8 cylinder engine was passed off as satisfactory, the changes would be included in the | ||