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).
Meeting with Firths of Sheffield regarding a failure of front axle springs and the potential to source them from Woodheads instead.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\3\ scan0101 | |
| Date | 1st September 1924 | |
| CJ. from H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} C. to BJ. C. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} C. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to Eg. X9410 Wd{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead}5/U1.9.24. E.A.C.111 Front Axle. Following the conference last Friday morning, I visited Firths, Sheffield, and informed them that R.{Sir Henry Royce} is not satisfied with their patent clip and attributes the failure of certain Front Springs of the 43" pattern 12% stiffer type to the use of said clips and imperfect fitting in other ways. Mr. Bernard A.{Mr Adams} Firth, Chairman, was present together with several directors, including Mr. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Wortley Fawcett, and all were astonished at the statement I had made and demanded that proof of said statement be afforded them. I undertook that proof shall be forthcoming and added that until further notice they must not fit their patent clip to any more springs. I then proceeded to suggest that they should make up some 43" springs 12% stiffer type with Woodheads patent clip and after a long and somewhat heated discussion they declined remarking that they preferred not to build any more front springs (43") until we definitely decided what we wanted and were in a position to give them instructions to build springs in a certain way in quantities without variation. I told them their action would compel us to go to Woodheads and that it was unlikely that Woodheads would undertake to help us in this emergency unless we promised tham an order for a considerable number of springs. Mr. Bernard Firth replied that he recognized that this must follow the attitude which his firm had adopted. This morning we have received a letter from Firths, dated 30th. ult. signed by Mr. Bernard A.{Mr Adams} Firth, Chairman, and I attach copy for your perusal. The terms of the letter are very mild when compared with what was said at the interview. You will note that said letter states that no objection will be raised to our obtaining a limited number of the said front springs from Woodheads. Contd: | ||