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).
Forging quality, and cost savings achieved by redesigning front suspension main levers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0385 | |
| Date | 20th July 1938 | |
| -6- ROY{Sir Henry Royce}/Les.1/B.20.7.38. 6. Quality (Contd:- (d) Freedom of scale in dies. (e) Avoidance of burning material. For example - some firms do not machine the outside of the dies in order to facilitate correct die alignment. For these dies it is necessary to examine continually each forging for offset and often results in many forgings being produced before the error is rectified. We are hoping, by comparing the methods of production in various forges, to help the quality of the cheap forging firms. As an example of the progress which has been made due to alteration in design and cheaper material bought at the Association steel price, we quote figures obtained for B.3 and B.50 front suspension main levers. | Part | Material | Price each | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Original design FB.2939 | 208.A | £2. 7s. 3d. | | New Design FB.3507 | 1% chrome used for front axles | £0. 11s.8d. | | SAVING | | £1. 15s.7d. | | SAVING PER CHASSIS | | £3. 1s. 2d. | As we have run steel castings for these levers on the Bumper chassis B.III and B.50, we consider that 1% chrome is quite adequate for this part. In order to find suitable firms for each item and get as much criticism of our designs as possible, a book is being prepared of all Bentley III and Bentley 50 forgings. This can be shown to forging firms and enable them to criticise our design and choose parts which can quote a really keen price. This we hope will enable the specialist to be found for each particular type of forging. ROY{Sir Henry Royce}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} | ||