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).
Cost reduction for a main lever forging by altering the design and materials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0212 | |
| Date | 9th November 1937 | |
| -2- Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Les.5/WH.9.11.37. As the main lever forging FB.2939 is more than double the cost per lb. of the yoke piece, we have discussed with Hughes-Johnson the method of reducing the cost by alteration to the design. The cost of the forging is due to the large spring flange. Our design makes the flange considerably worse than the Packard piece as we have made a large hole in the centre of the flange and put the material to the outside of the flange. By making the piece similar to the Packard we save £1. 2s. 6d. per chassis. If the spring location flange was put on to the lever as a separator pressing there would be an additional saving per chassis in the forging cost of 5/6d, but there would then be the cost of the pressing and extra labour for attachment. We recommend that we should use mild steel front suspension levers and that the spring flange on the main lever should be exactly similar to the Packard. This will give B.III a material cost of 16/10d. greater than B.II, however in view of the saving from the coil spring, shock damper and other modifications which are being investigated, it appears that B.III complete front suspension can be made for 30% less cost than B.II. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} | ||