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).
Conference report on chassis cost, focusing on front suspension and comparing figures for Wraith and Bentley V models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161a\1\ scan0001 | |
| Date | 4th July 1939 | |
| 1381 [Handwritten] Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} [Handwritten] Pm/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} Prime [Handwritten] RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/Mr.Reid. BY.4/G.4.7.39. CONFERENCE IN REGARD TO COST - CHASSIS. Present: BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} Mr. Reid. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} being unable to be present at the Conference asked BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} to take charge, the matters discussed were :- (a). Front Suspension again. (b). Rear Axle. FRONT SUSPENSION. The reason for the front suspension being again under consideration was that Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} was particularly desirous that each individual piece in the front suspension should be carefully considered by the Works and a figure produced for each individual piece, so that the necessary time for producing any one piece was clearly defined, and an attempt could be made to verify any one of these figures by giving a run off, if desired, later on of a given number. (1). Latest figures for Wraith :- Material £23. 6. 9d. Labour (nett). £10. 7. 5d. Charges £23. 6. 8d. £57. 0. 10d. (2). Comparative cost figures for Bentley V.{VIENNA} present.- Material £14.15. 7d. Nett Labour £ 6.15.10d. Charges. £15. 5. 7d. £36.17. 0. (3). Normal working conditions freed from restrictions .- Material £11.18. 4d. Labour (Nett). 3.18.10d. Charges. 8.17. 4d. £24. 14. 6d. From the foregoing, it is clear that a very definite reduction in price is expected for future conditions of manufacture, when present restrictions due to difficulties are removed and special tools provided. | ||