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).
Reduction of the vehicle tool kit and spares, arguing against making it smaller.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\6\ Scan002 | |
| Date | 17th December 1926 | |
| To EWT. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. to Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} TOOLS AND SPARES. Replying to EWT3/FG26.11.26. The question of reducing the bulk and cost of the tool kit was gone into thoroughly in 1923. At that time R.{Sir Henry Royce} recommended that certain tools should be looked upon as garage tools and need only be carried when the car was going on a long journey. It was found however that the actual weight and bulk which was saved by leaving these special tools out of the kit was very small and no action was taken. There has never been any suggestion from R.{Sir Henry Royce} that the special tools are not necessary, in fact he is very keen that the tool kit should be as complete as possible. To reduce the tool kit as suggested by CWB. would mean a total revision of the instruction Book. In there we give particulars of how certain units should be taken to pieces and describe the use of the special tools. We do not think that because a practically new car with a skilled engineer and RR. trained chauffeur ran several thousand miles using the special kit described in CWB4/GM16.11.26. it can be assumed it is sufficient. We think rather we should consider a car several years old in an out-of-the-way part of the country which is in the hands of an average owner or chauffeur. It may be necessary to re-line the brakes - to do this the hubs must be removed. Without the special tools which we provide, it would be a most difficult if not impossible job and most probably the parts would be damaged in the attempt. The same applies to the other special tools which are provided. We do not think a hammer and chisel or a copper drift can be looked upon as a satisfactory alternative to the 'C' spanner. Adjustable spanners are looked upon as being most unsatisfactory - box spanners are essential to get at some of the nuts on the car. The chief bulk of the tool kit consists of :- Tyre pump. Mallet. Wheel spanner. Jack and handle. Grease gun - etc. These are essential and cannot be reduced. contd :- | ||