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).
Cost reduction strategies for the B.III and B.50 car radiators.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0311 | |
| Date | 17th March 1938 | |
| To Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. c.c. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c.c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c.c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} REDUCTION OF COST OF B.III RADIATOR FOR BOTH B.III & B.50 CARS. The present B.III on estimated figures shows a cost reduction of approx. £10 compared with L series B.II. By including the modifications to the internal unit already suggested by Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. and those shown on attached rough drawings from Marstons, a further reduction in cost of approx. £1.10.0d. to £2.0.0d. should be possible. The cost of the B.III radiator will then be approx. £6.10.0d. more than the S.S.Jaguar, and no further reductions can be made unless either we abandon the centrally mounted wings and radiator scheme, or materially alter the external appearance of the wings and radiator, or accept a lower standard of finish. B.50 Radiator, however, can be further cheapened considerably by the use of a cheaper grille and mounting for same together with a considerably cheaper method of staying the wings and lamps off the radiator permitted by the different wing contours on B.50. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. has discussed B.III and B.50 radiator in detail with Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} and we find that it should be possible to use the same internal radiator unit for both cars even when taking advantage of a cheaper wing and lamp mounting scheme on B.50. Accordingly, the first B.50 radiator which Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} is scheming should use the existing B.III scheme of inner unit temporarily, with minor modifications necessary for reduced cost wing and lamp mounting, while a design should now be produced by Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} incorporating all possible cost reductions on B.III radiator, both inner unit and outer shell, lamp supports etc. The resultant cheaper inner unit will then be available for the final B.50 radiator as well as B.III. Will Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} therefore please produce such a modified design for B.III radiator as soon as this can be conveniently done. We attach a list of the features which we consider should be included and which are a combination of past suggestions both by us and John Marston Ltd. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. | ||