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).
Contract for 50 engines for a Light Tank and unresolved issues with the War Office regarding screening specifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 25\1\ Scan035 | |
| Date | 8th December 1932 | |
| 84688 To P. From E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} For. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. (Struck through) re Contract for installing second engine in Light Tank, and Contract for 50 engines. Further to our memo E.1/HP.26.11.32 to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} (copy to yourself), we have up till now failed to get any satisfaction from the War Office on the lines set out in this memo Mr Sheryer was sent at our request to discuss the matter and although as we explained in E.1/HP.26.11.32 a thorough satisfactory understanding was arrived at with him, the results as far as the Contracts Department at the War Office are concerned have failed to materialise. We attach herewith a copy of their letter of 25th ultimo, which we received after Mr Sheryer returned to the War Office. Also a copy of their letter dated 2nd inst. We took the matter up with Colonel Hudson, and he has advised us that he is not in a position to help in the matter but that we must put it before the War Office ourselves. A copy of his letter of the 7th inst. is attached, together with the notes of the telephone call of the 7th inst. I am, therefore, asking you to see what you can do personally at the War Office. It should be pointed out that at the time the quotation was made in connection with the contract for 50 engines we had no knowledge of specification No.MX{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}/PROV/3086 setting out the provisions for screening required by the War Office. This specification was handed to us on the occasion of Mr Sheryer's visit of 24th November, and goes further than anything we at present fit to our aero engines. Sparking plugs completely enclosed in metal are called for, and cambric covered armoured cable of .55" diameter. We do not know if our 20/25 ignition will operate satisfactorily with completely screened plugs. We believe that some research is necessary to arrive at a satisfactory compromise with regard to the [Stamp: RECEIVED DEC 9 1932] | ||