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).
Delivery delays and design modifications for Phantom III clutch plates due to supplier issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 93\3\ scan0133 | |
| Date | 11th June 1936 | |
| X312 To By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. to Srb. c. to Roy.{Sir Henry Royce} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Smth.16/KW.11.6.36. Phantom III Clutch. There has been a hold up in the delivery of Ph.III clutch plates from Borg & Beck since arrangements were made to modify the design a fortnight ago. We are anxious to make it clear that the Experimental Dept. has done nothing to cause this situation. Briefly the position is that, following the failure of the clutch fabrics on 34-EX, arrangements were made by us with Borg & Beck to modify the design of the clutch plate, and the corresponding minor alterations to the clutch cover assembly were put through by the design department. It was agreed to get these modifications on to production as soon as possible and to apply them to all chassis already built. When we arranged with Borg & Beck to strengthen the centre plates we emphasized that they must continue production of the old type until instructed to the contrary by the U.O., as we said in our memo. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Smth.16/KW.27.5.36. Acting on this they arranged for a supply of 25 sets of the original type facing from Ferodo so that they could meet our requirements until they could deliver, and we were in a position to fit, the new plates. We understand that Borg & Beck told the O.O. that they hoped to commence delivery of the new plates immediately after Whitsuntide, and that it was accordingly agreed not to accept any more of the old plates since we had sufficient in the Works to keep production going. Borg and Beck are however a week late in delivery, owing they say to the poor quality of the facings supplied to them by Ferodo. Ferodo deny this and say that the facings are of standard quality, and we are looking into the question. This is the history of the matter so far as we are concerned. The point we wish to make is that it has been our policy throughout to explain to outside firms that we have no authority to interfere with or hold up production, and that until instructions are given by the Order Office they must continue to deliver to existing orders. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/F.Ll.Smith. | ||