been drawn in the UK. There was therefore much metallurgy and physics to be
done to understand the process of producing a ductile tungsten
18 and to
prevent damaging ‘filament sag’. Robert’s initial role within the laboratory was
concerned with the borderline between the physics, chemistry and engineering
of lamps and valves. For example he studied lamp manufacturing processes, he
proposed the first laboratory research programme on tungsten, examined the
purity of tungsten wire used in vacuum lamps together with techniques of
tungsten wire drawing (Chap. 9), he also examined slow leaks as a cause of
lamp failure and made progress towards the elimination of impurities in argon
used in gas filled lamps.
19 Many of these problems of course were the ‘curse’ of
colleagues in the Lamp works who wanted quick solutions from the
Laboratories. These did not always work as hoped and there was initially some
tension between the two groups. But laboratory staff consoled themselves by
the prospect of their new premises which were planned almost immediately the
research laboratories had come into existence. The new laboratories were
eventually built at East Lane Wembley, a point we return to later in the
Chapter.
Even so, working in temporary premises with newly appointed staff, the
range and amount of work achieved in the first year would have done credit
to more established organizations. In total, 111 reports were produced during
1919 by people who tackled all sorts of problems in a variety of fields, and
who eventually settled down into areas in which they were to become
recognised specialists. Even at this early stage in their development, the
laboratories began attracting attention from other GEC institutions with a
view to funding research and they had their first experience of consultancy in
dealing with proposals from outside GEC. They examined proposals for
vacuum jackets for increasing the efficiency of gas filled lamps, a buried shell
detector, and a fire damp detector. They also addressed other makers products
and technology and examined claims in competitor’s patents. At the time,
Robert for example assessed the domestic ice-making machine of another
manufacturer whist a colleague (L. B. W. Jolley) undertook the first work on
domestic appliances and examined the design and manufacture of an electric
kettle. Robert also helped produce the first report the poor shelf life of
batteries, being a topic that was to exercise GEC for some years to come.
19
Some evidence of Roberts efforts regarding his investigations into the ice
making machines still exist today, having been passed down through the
family. A single sheet of paper dated 29 November 1919 in Robert’s hand
lists patent literature of interest for injector refrigerating machines covering
326
D. Sheppard
done to understand the process of producing a ductile tungsten
18 and to
prevent damaging ‘filament sag’. Robert’s initial role within the laboratory was
concerned with the borderline between the physics, chemistry and engineering
of lamps and valves. For example he studied lamp manufacturing processes, he
proposed the first laboratory research programme on tungsten, examined the
purity of tungsten wire used in vacuum lamps together with techniques of
tungsten wire drawing (Chap. 9), he also examined slow leaks as a cause of
lamp failure and made progress towards the elimination of impurities in argon
used in gas filled lamps.
19 Many of these problems of course were the ‘curse’ of
colleagues in the Lamp works who wanted quick solutions from the
Laboratories. These did not always work as hoped and there was initially some
tension between the two groups. But laboratory staff consoled themselves by
the prospect of their new premises which were planned almost immediately the
research laboratories had come into existence. The new laboratories were
eventually built at East Lane Wembley, a point we return to later in the
Chapter.
Even so, working in temporary premises with newly appointed staff, the
range and amount of work achieved in the first year would have done credit
to more established organizations. In total, 111 reports were produced during
1919 by people who tackled all sorts of problems in a variety of fields, and
who eventually settled down into areas in which they were to become
recognised specialists. Even at this early stage in their development, the
laboratories began attracting attention from other GEC institutions with a
view to funding research and they had their first experience of consultancy in
dealing with proposals from outside GEC. They examined proposals for
vacuum jackets for increasing the efficiency of gas filled lamps, a buried shell
detector, and a fire damp detector. They also addressed other makers products
and technology and examined claims in competitor’s patents. At the time,
Robert for example assessed the domestic ice-making machine of another
manufacturer whist a colleague (L. B. W. Jolley) undertook the first work on
domestic appliances and examined the design and manufacture of an electric
kettle. Robert also helped produce the first report the poor shelf life of
batteries, being a topic that was to exercise GEC for some years to come.
19
Some evidence of Roberts efforts regarding his investigations into the ice
making machines still exist today, having been passed down through the
family. A single sheet of paper dated 29 November 1919 in Robert’s hand
lists patent literature of interest for injector refrigerating machines covering
326
D. Sheppard