Minutes of the LEO Management Meeting, 2nd October 1959.
[The original document is very fuzzy - please see transcript for a better idea of the content.]

Transcript :

CONFIDENTIAL

Minutes of the LEO Management Meeting
Friday 2nd October 1959

PRESENT: Mr Anthony Salmon, Mr Simmons, Mr Thompson, Mr Barnes, Mr Caminer, Mr Pinkerton


LEO II/5
Mr Thompson referred to the recent trouble with magnetic tape through spurious faulty block marks. This was giving a bad impression to Glynn Mills and to the British Oxygen programmers who were doing trials. The utmost priority was, therefore, necessary to get rid of the trouble.

LEO II/9
Mr Barnes was asked to consider the possibility of using this computer for Ilfords if they placed an order. It would mean making provision for a smaller core store and drums.

Publicity for LEO III
Mr Caminer's proposals of 1st October were considered. It was agreed that we should plan for a press announcement on 1st January and that various people would need to be told beforehand, including those on list D. A provisional date for telling the people on list C was agreed as 1st November but this would need to be confirmed when the time came. This would be dependent on the plans for announcing on 1st January being ready.

It was agreed that existing customers could be told when convenient that we were hoping to make an announcement in the New Year.

As regards Ilfords it was left to Mr Anthony Salmon and Mr Thompson to decide whether to mention this or not. The decision with regard to Tate & Lyle was deferred.

Prototype LEO III
Having regard to Standard Motors ideas of having a service bureau in Coventry it was agreed to consider Glasgow as an alternative to Birmingham for the installation of the prototype LEO III as a service bureau.

Shipbuilding Organisations
Mr Thompson reported that Mr Seaman of British Oxygen had referred to the great interest shipbuilding firms were now taking in both production control and in the designing of plates to be cut by oxyacetylene plant. It was recognised that this might involve us in a great deal of programming work for which there was no definite order. Nevertheless it was agreed that we should pursue this with Mr Seaman and get an introduction to some shipbuilding firm who was interested.

German Marketing
Mr Caminer reported that the replies to Dr Kiezter's letters had not been too encouraging. Our party had been invited to go to Lancaster House to the reception for the Board of Trade visitors and we had been asked to take two pages in a brochure to be issued by them which would cost us £30 to £40. It was agreed we should do this.

Publicity
Mr Caminer reported that he had interviewed a number of applicants and that who were possibles. It was agreed that arrangements should be made for these to be interviewed by Mr Anthony and Mr Thompson.

Financing
The latest proposals from Mercantile Credit Company for British Oxygen were considered. It was agreed that alternative proposals should be asked for.

ICT
It was reported that Mr Stammers had made a short visit to Cadby Hall. He wanted to bring Mr Holland-Martin to Hartree House.

Budgets
Mr Simmons referred to the latest three year budget and asked that the quarterly figures should take this form giving up-to-date figures for the 3 years. It was also agreed that the statement should show the computers that were expected to be sold in each year.

Copy: Mr Anthony Salmon, Mr Simmons, Mr Thompson, Mr Barnes, Mr Caminer, Mr Pinkerton, Mr Holmyard.

Provenance :
Collected by Peter Bird.