| This book has
been produced to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Metropolitan
Vickers Electrical Company. Its history, first as British Westinghouse
and later as M-V covers a period of unsurpassed progress; in
fact it is in many respects also representative of the history
of the electrical engineering industry, to the general progress
of which it has made many major contributions. This is true
not only in the fields of research and design, but also in such
important matters as manufacturing efficiency, the training
of personnel and, above all the relationship between management
and employees-The Human Factor. A democratic system has been
built up at the great Trafford Park Works of the Company, which
has operated for fifty years without any major internal labour
dispute.
 Mention
is made of outstanding events and of personalities in the
following pages, but I wish also to pay a tribute to the many
thousands whose names are not included but whose contribution
to the Company's progress is none the less appreciated. A
company cannot achieve a position of eminence solely by the
efforts of a few-but only by the combined knowledge, skill
and loyal cooperation of all its employees.
To
the older employees of the Company this book will be a treasured
reminder of old memories. The younger ones will, I hope, find
interest and inspiration in the accounts of problems overcome
and in the mention of personalities past and present old names
that are already in the fabric, and new ones now being woven
into the Company's history.
To
friends of the Company at home and overseas who by their support
and collaboration have made possible the results achieved,
we offer this book as a record of fifty years of friendship
and happy associations.
As
regards the future, there are already signs of great new developments
electronics, gas turbines, atomic energy to all of which the
Metropolitan-Vickers Company has made valuable contributions.
Come what may, therefore, I have the utmost confidence in
the Metrovick spirit, that spirit born of adversity which
has enabled us to face and overcome almost insuperable difficulties
with courage and good humour.
To
a large extent material in this book has been contributed
by past and present servants ot the Company, far too numerous
to mention individually. Outstanding service has been rendered
by Mr. J. Dummelow in planning and editing, and by Mr. C.
G. Lloyd in providing a basis for the early periods. |
