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).
Outlining a meeting with Dollfus regarding a sub-contract arrangement with Fordair for Merlin engine production.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\4\ scan0161 | |
| Date | 18th October 1939 | |
| 12 W/P. To Sr. from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}15/MH.{M. Huckerby}18.10.39. MEETING WITH DOLLFUS. I can give you a brief outline of our meeting with Dollfus, though naturally, certain items are best discussed verbally. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} emphasised that they had not got enough capital to make the engines which appear to be contemplated. It was finally agreed that Fordair would largely start by being a sub-contract factory. They would ship parts to Derby and when they had sent enough parts over to be the equivalent of the man hours necessary to produce a Merlin engine, the French Government would get a complete engine. The financial complication of such a scheme appalled me, and as a matter of fact, I do not think it can possibly work. However, owing to the War our people seem reluctant to refuse to continue helping Fordair and so this Organisation is carrying on. We are purchasing quite a lot of machines in America, they are purchasing quite a lot of machines too. How long the present arrangement will last I do not know. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||