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).
Letter from John Howlett to R. B. Wilson regarding production scheduling, tooling, and delivery priorities for various customers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\5\ scan0067 | |
| Date | 28th June 1938 | |
| -2- R.{Sir Henry Royce} B. Wilson Esq. 28th June, 1938. I understand that the Leyland people have been along to Mr. Robotham and complained with regard to delivery, but we have already produced all the Leyland requirements, which was for their own engine, from A.C.6. These have been scrapped and we have now reproduced them from A.C.9. Unfortunately some of the tools are not ready for the Leyland job, and I understand that Mr. Robotham has agreed to cast and machine the job for Leylands. Really I think that this is an unnecessary complication. Leylands, the same as everybody else, must take their turn, because it is impossible to give every-body the preference they require. I will give you an instance: only last week I went to see Fairbrother and Wilkinson of Napiers, and I told them that we should be pleased to supply them samples and so on wherever they had bearing trouble, and this morning we received an order for one set of bearings for immediate delivery. Well, you will appreciate we have got to make dies for casting them: we have then got to tool the job up, and if you are going to be stampeded into making these kind of things for people who are in all this terrible hurry and wanting immediate delivery, I am afraid you are making a rod for your own backs. I do hope you will have a chat with Mr. Robotham and point out to him that we are doing everything we possibly can to get the job well and truly organized, and everybody will get their deliveries in due course. We have already made a number of deliveries to Morris, and I am expecting an order any time now for 500 Bearings for Dennis, but there has been a little jam in my Tool Room with regard to the production of the necessary jigs, and I think you will understand how that has come about in view of all the numbers and different types of dies, jigs and tools required to pick up this in such a short time. You can however rest assured and assure Mr. Hives and Mr. Robotham that the matter has my very serious attention, and I am doing my utmost to get the Tool Room straightened out, and to give everybody the service which I know you would wish me to give them. Yours sincerely, John Howlett (sd). | ||