Friday, April 11, 2008
I was contacted on 28 November 2007 by Stewart Revell formerly of Marconi Mobile Radio, Trafford Park, Manchester who had come across this blog. After some email exchanges, he introduced me to a friend, Alan Gall formerly of SEI and historian of SEI/Marconi and other companies. Many thanks Stewart and I hope to meet you soon.
Stewart also quotes Alan.........”Claude Summerfield. Claude also recalls Bill Hartland as both worked in the same lab (Claude is 92 years old)”
Subsequently, Alan Gall has been in direct contact and I quote from his email of the 7th(?) December 2007 as it relates to the proximity fuse.
W.Hartland, W.Lord, G.Tomlin and L.Rolin.
The Polgreen you mention was Geoffrey Richard Polgreen, an outstanding engineer with many patents to his name. Gerald M.Tomlin (on the fuse team) succeeded Henry Cobden Turner as MD of SEI.
The book "The Prof of Two Worlds - The Official Life of Professor F.A. Lindemann, Viscount Cherwell" by The Earl of Birkenhead (1961) says: "Mr Cobden Turner, a joint-inventor of the fuse, was grateful to the Prof for the encouragement given to him in its development".
"The proximity fuse invented by Salford Electrical Instruments is claimed to be the second greatest invention of the war. It was brought into use in 1944 and helped to beat the Luftwaffe into helplessness prior to the invasion of Europe. The Americans adopted the proximity fuse with enthusiasm and used £700 million worth in their air battles against the Japanese" (Salford City Reporter 22.07.1949). “
I am hoping to meet with Stewart, Alan and Claude once I am back in the UK – probably early summer 2008 - and see how this much delayed project can be moved on. All help gratefully received!
