Correspondence between Peter R. Hill and M.A. Holmyard of Lyons and B.J. Haley (Radio Corporation of America) concerning arrangements for a proposed research visit to the US by John Pinkerton and David Caminer.  

Comprises:
- Typescript letter from B.J. Haley (Manager, Wage/Salary and Training, Tube Division, Radio Corporation of America) to Peter R Hill (Assistant Secretary, Lyons), 27th Feb 1958 [PJB/2/7/011-012]; 
- Copy letter from Peter R Hill (Assistant Secretary, Lyons) to Dr A.M. Glover (General Manager, Semiconductor Division, Radio Corporation of America) re proposed visit to their plant in New Jersey by John Pinkerton and David Caminer to see the latest developments in transistors, 7th Mar 1958 [PJB/2/7/008]; 
- Copy letter from Peter R Hill (Assistant Secretary, Lyons) to Admiral E.D. Foster (Vice President, Electronic Data Processing Division, Radio Corporation of America) re proposed visit by John Pinkerton and David Caminer to see the Bizmac machines, 7th Mar 1958 [PJB/2/7/010];
- Copy letter from Peter R Hill (Assistant Secretary, Lyons) to B.J. Haley (Manager, Wage/Salary and Training, Tube Division, Radio Corporation of America) enclosing copies of letters to Glover and Foster, 10th Mar 1958 [PJB/2/7/009];
- Copy letter from M.A. Holmyard (Secretary, LEO Computers Ltd) to The Manager, Westminster Bank Ltd, asking if Pinkerton and Caminer could be introduced to contacts at the First National Bank, Boston, and the First National City Bank in New York, so that they might include visits to computers in operation there (namely the Datamatic) during their trip, 12th Mar 1958  [PJB/2/7/014];
- Letter from Admiral E.D. Foster, confirming they would be very happy for the visit to go ahead, 18th Mar 1958    [PJB/2/7/013].

Transcript :

RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA
TUBE DIVISION
HARRISON, NEW JER6EV 

			February 27, 1958 
Mr. Peter Hill 
"Short Hills"
Doggett's Wood Lane 
Chalfont St. Giles 
Bucks, England 

Dear Peter: 

An extended trip from the office has necessitated the delay in answering your note of February 4. 

I made initial contacts to determine the proper manner of introducing Messrs. Caminer and Pinkerton to our Transistor and Bizmac operations. You are aware that certain approvals are required before clearance is 
granted to outside visitors to these operations. 

My suggestion is that you, or some one delegated by you, address a letter to the General Managers of both operations, requesting a visit to view the latest developments in both fields. In your letter you should outline the type of positions occupied by Messrs Caminer and Pinkerton; reasons for the proposed visit; and the specific subjects which these men would like to discuss with our executives. If you feel that the Lyons Electronic Office could exchange information with RCA, please so indicate.
 
Your letters to RCA should indicate that you are writing at the suggestion of B. J. Haley, Manager, Wage/Salary and Training, Electron Tube Division, and should be addressed to 

Dr. A. M. Glover, General Manager, Semiconductor Division, Radio Corporation of America, Somerville, New Jersey 
and 
Admiral E. D. Foster, Vice President and General Manager, Electronic Data Processing Division, Radio Corporation of America, Camden, New Jersey 


ELECTRON TUBES 

-2-

I feel certain that, if at all possible, Dr. Glover and Admiral Foster will be happy to accommodate your colleagues. 

Dorothy and I send our best to you, Betty, and the children. 
Sincerely, 
 
B. J. Haley, Manager, Wage/Salary and Training 

cc: Dr. A. M. Glover 
    Adm. E. D. Foster 


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X/PRH/DKM
				7th March, 1958.

Dr A.M. Glover,
General Manager,
Semiconductor Division,
Radio Corporation of America,
Somerville,
New Jersey.

Dear Dr. Glover,

Two executives of our Company who are concerned with LEO, our electronic office, will shortly be visiting the States to ascertain the latest developments in engineering and operating practice of electronic computers, and will be in the Philadelphia area from the 28th March to the 1st April.

We would much appreciate it if you would allow them to visit your plant to see the latest developments in transistors. The gentlemen concerned are Dr. John M. Pinkerton, Chief Engineer of LEO, who will be known to your Dr. Wesley Leas, and Mr David T. Caminer, who is the executive in charge of programming. The writer obtained your name from Mr. B.J. Haley, the Manager of the Wage and Salary branch of your electronic tube division, who is a personal friend.

We are also writing to Admiral E.D. Foster with a request that Dr. Pinkerton and Mr. Caminer may see the Bizmac machine at your Camden plant.

We would be happy to reciprocate at any time by showing the two computers already installed which, as you are probably aware, we have developed and built ourselves.

Yours faithfully,
J. Lyons & Company Ltd
[signature - Peter R Hill]
Assistant Secretary.

Copy to: Mr. B. J. Haley.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

X/PRH/DKM
				7th March, 1958.

Admiral E. D. Foster, 
Vice President and General Manager, 
Electronic Data Processing Division, 
Radio Corporation of America, 
Camden, 
New Jersey 

Dear Admiral Foster,

Two executives of our Company who are concerned with LEO, our electronic office, will shortly be visiting the States to ascertain the latest developments in engineering and operating practice of electronic computers, and will be in the Philadelphia area from the 28th March to the 1st April.

We would much appreciate it if you would allow them to visit your plant to see the Bizmac machines. The gentlemen concerned are Dr. John M. Pinkerton, Chief Engineer of LEO, who will be known to your Dr. Wesley Leas, and Mr David T. Caminer, who is the executive in charge of programming. The writer obtained your name from Mr. B.J. Haley, the Manager of the Wage and Salary branch of your electronic tube division, who is a personal friend.

We would be happy to reciprocate at any time by showing to representatives of your Company the two computers already installed which, as you are probably aware, we have developed and built ourselves.

Yours faithfully,
J. Lyons & Company Ltd
[signature - Peter R Hill]
Assistant Secretary.

Copy to: Mr. B. J. Haley.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

X/PRH/DKM
				10th March, 1958. 

Mr. B.J. Haley
Radio Corporation of America, 
Tube Division,
Harrison,
New Jersey. 

Dear Bern, 
Thank you very much for your letter of the 27th February giving me the information for Messrs. Pinkerton and Caminer. 

I have written to Dr. Glover and Admiral Foster as you suggested, and enclose copies of my letters. 

With all good wishes. 
Yours sincerely, 
[signature - P]
Peter R. Hill
Assistant Secretary. 

Encl.


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Copies to: Mr. J.M.M. Pinkerton
           Mr. D.T. Caminer

MAH/JW
					12th March, 1958.
The Manager,
Westminster Bank Ltd.,
85 Hammersmith Road,
LONDON, W.14.

Dear Sir,

Two senior executives of this Company, Dr. John Pinkerton, Chief Development Engineer, and Mr. David Caminer, in charge of computer applications generally, will be visiting the United States in a few days' time.

It has been suggested to them by the O&M department at the Bank of England that, while they are there, they should take the opportunity of seeing the work that is being done with the Datamatic Computer at the First National Bank, Boston, and with character recognition and other electronic devices at teh First National City Bank in New York. We should be most grateful if you would be so good as to effect introductions for them to these Banks.

They would like to visit the First National City Bank on the morning of Thursday, 27th March and the Boston First National Bank on Friday, 18th April. Dr. Pinkerton and Mr. Caminer leave for New York on Tuesday, 18th March, and it would be extremely helpful if it were possible for the two Banks to confirm these engagements to them at their New York hotel, the New Weston Hotel, 30E Forty-fifth Street. They leave New York for other cities on 27th March.

Yours faithfully, 
LEO COMPUTERS LTD.
[signature - M.A. Holmyard]
Secretary



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA 
CAMDEN 2, NEW JERSEY 

E. DORSEY FOSTER 
VICE PRESIDENT 
AND 
GENERAL MANAGER 
ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING DIVISION
		
						March 18, 1958 

Mr. Peter R. Hill
Assistant Secretary
J. Lyons & Company Limited
Cadby Hall
London W.14 ENGLAND

Dear Mr. Hill: 
In order that you may have as early a reply as possible to your inquiry of 7 March, I hasten briefly to advise you that we shall be delighted to have the two executives of your company visit us during the period of March 28th to April 1st. 

Will you please advise Dr. Pinkerton and Mr. Caminer to give us a ring when they arrive in this vicinity and to let us know when it will be convenient for them to come over to visit with us? We shall try to make their stay here as inform­ative and interesting as possible. 

We very much appreciate the invitation that you have extended to us to visit your facilities whenever we are
in England and we shall be delighted to take advantage of that opportunity when it is possible. 

Very sincerely, 
[signature]
E. D. FOSTER 

Provenance :
Collected by Peter Bird as part of his research for his book LEO - The First Business Computer (1994).