The Early Background

Abstract

The history of Rolls-Royce lends itself readily to a chronological division into eight periods, all of which are distinguished by particular developments, problems and personalities. The first begins before the turn of the century and continues to the actual foundation of the company in 1906. The second brings the company through its formative years to the outbreak of the First World War which it entered with a strong reputation in the special field which it had done so much to create, but otherwise completely unprepared for the remarkable part which it was to play in that war and unaware of the extensive changes in its organisation and activities which the war was to bring about.

A great society is a society in which its men of business think greatly of their functions.

Alfred North Whitehead