Minutes of the LEO Management Meeting, 19th October 1959.

Transcript :

CONFIDENTIAL

Minutes of the LEO Management Meeting
Monday 19th October 1959

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


Arising from the Operation Progress Report

LEO I and LEO II. It was agreed that in future the report should show what drop in load there would be when Fords took over their own payroll.

LEO II/5. It was reported that another letter had come from Glyn Mills which showed they were still somewhat unhappy although they recognised the position was improving.
Some of the faults on tape had been eliminated and temporary stopgaps found for others but there was still a lot of work to be done to get it to the necessary state of perfection. The hours for modification had now been brought down to 90 and there was a timetable for completing them as soon as possible. The second drum was now operational but the margin of operation was still not high enough.
As regards the remaining design weakness in the Powers printer, Mr Barnes promised to circulate revised information.


Sales Forecast

This was accepted.


Development

Analex. It was agreed that we should ask for speeds of 800 and 1200 rpm. With regard to the question of avoiding duty on the basis that it was a first machine and experimental, it was agreed that the fact that we might ultimately have to pay need not be considered at this stage.

Bull Printer. It was agreed that we should investigate more closely as to what facilities the BZ printer provided to see if we could not economise on the amount of modification work. In this connection reference was made to the Exhibition in Paris where Bull computers might be seen. Mr Pinkerton had not received a catalogue however, and there did not seem to be sufficient justification for anyone attending.

Ampex Tape Machines. The proposal that a visit to America should be organised was considered and it was agreed in principle that there should be a visit and that negotiations with Ampex should start. On the other hand it was accepted that it had defects which might prevent it being satisfactory in operation. It was agreed that Ampex should be asked if they had any tape machines in effective operation which we could visit. Mr Pinkerton expressed the opinion that whatever defects there were these could be overcome in practice. It was agreed that the choice of people for going to the States should be Mr Sylvester and Mr Gosden.


LEO II/7
Mr Barnes said that there was a timetable for clearing up modifications to the tape machine circuits and, provided that further modifications were not substantial, these should not cause a delay in completion. Mr Barnes also promised to make further enquiries about the completion of the magnetic drum to make sure that the tentative plans agreed when Mr Handley visited them were, in fact, going to be carried through.

Standby Tape Machines
Mr Barnes pointed out that no provision had yet been made for standby machines for British Oxygen and Standard Motors. It was agreed that at an appropriate moment we should let them know that we felt that if they would need four tape machines for any job it would be advisable to have a standby.

German Marketing
Mr Pinkerton reported that there had been a very useful visit from the Directors of the German Chemical firm, Farbwerke Hoechst AG on October 16th. They had said they would be in touch with us again after 1st January.

Italian Marketing
Mr Thompson reported that he had had a letter from the International Commercial Company who were offering to set as our agents and possibly provide a maintenance service for our equipment. It was agreed that no commitment should be made at this stage but that we should enquire further.

LEO Film
In connection with an enquiry from Samaritan Films it was agreed that we should not, for the time being, consider making a new film. 

Conference Room
Mr Thompson reported that he had a letter from the architect he had consulted. The cost was estimated at £3,000 and the architect's fees from £250-£300. It was agreed that this seemed to be too much but it was agreed to wait the preliminary meeting on Wednesday 28th October.

Organisation
Mr Pinkerton reported that everyone had now agreed about the proposed changes in responsibility at Minerva Road. Mr Thompson promised that he would now circulate.

LEO II/11
It was reported that Plesseys were willing to defer until January the question of the ordering of packages for LEO II/11, but we should have to pay £600. Then, if we later did go ahead with LEO II/11 this would count towards the cost.


To: Mr Anthony Salmon, Mr Simmons, Mr Thompson, Mr Barnes, Mr Caminer, Mr Pinkerton, Mr Holmyard

Provenance :
Collected by Peter Bird.