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 to Mr. Douglas Robertson in Australia declining his submitted design for a spring shackle due to a pre-existing patent and similar internal development.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 4\6\ 06-page39 | |
| Date | 13th April 1927 | |
| COPY. c. to Mailing Dept. c. to W/S. Whr.{Mr Wheeler} c. to BY/RW. April 13th. 1927. Wednesday. BY14/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 12.4.27. Mr. Douglas Robertson, "Ockley", (Box 23), NURIOOTPA, South Australia. Dear Sir, SPECIAL DESIGN OF SPRING SHACKLE. Referring to your letter of Mar. 3rd. attached to which was a copy of your application No.32913/25. "Improve-ments in the attachment of Motor Vehicle road springs". The design of spring shackle disclosed represents exactly what our American Associate Company have been doing for something over two years. They applied for a similar patent to be taken out in our name in England in 1926, to carry of course the convention date, in accordance with the American application, but our application was declined at The British Patent Office on the strength of a patent which was issued to Thomas Arthur Tinsdell, of 102, City Rd. Edgbaston, Birmingham, Application date Sept. 27th. 1917, No.13921/17. The scheme itself is quite a sound one, and is being used by our American Associates on all their vehicles. We ourselves have given the matter some consideration, but have not so far adopted it as our Chief Engineer is not at all satisfied that it represents the best way out of the difficulty for this Company, but judging from our Associate Company's experience in America, it certainly does represent an advance upon their usual practice. Thanking you for submitting the matter to us, and regretting we have to inform you that you have been anticipated by the application we have quoted above. We remain, Yours faithfully, TECHNICAL PRODUCTION ENGINEER, FOR ROLLS ROYCE LIMITED | ||