Correspondence and notes concerning research visits by members of the LEO team to other computers at Elliot (sic, Elliott), Ferranti and English Electric.
Comprises:

• 170. Internal Lyons memo from John Gosden to T.R. Thompson regarding arranging visits to Elliot (sic, Elliott), Ferranti and English Electric, dated 20th June 1956. [Duplicate not scanned];
• 171. Internal Lyons memo from John Gosden to David Caminer and Mr Mills dated 21st June 1956, confirming arrangements for their visit to Elliot (sic, Elliott) Bros on 27th June 1956;
• 172. Internal Lyons memo from John Gosden to David Caminer and Mr Mills dated 26th June 1956, confirming date for their visit to Ferranti to see the Pegasus computer as 10th July 1956;
• 173. Internal Lyons memo from F.C. Blight to David Caminer, Mr Mills and Mr Reid dated 27th June 1956, confirming transport arrangements for their visit to Ferranti on 10th July 1956. David Caminer has annotated this 'Ask Mr Barnes if he'd like to join us';
• 174. Internal Lyons memo from David Caminer to Tony Barnes dated 29th June 1956 confirming their visit to Ferranti on 10th July 1956; 
• 175. File copy letter from David Caminer to N.D. Hill (Computing Division, Elliot (sic, Elliott) Bros) thanking him and his colleagues for their hospitality during the visit on 27th June 1956;
• 176. List of Questions to Elliots (sic, Elliott) dated 2nd July 1956 drawn up by David Caminer in advance of their visit. [Duplicates not scanned];
• 177-181. Internal Lyons memo from John Pinkerton to T.R. Thompson enclosing his notes on the visit to Elliot (sic, Elliott) Bros at Boreham Wood on 27th June 1956, dated 9th July 1956;
• 182. Internal Lyons memo from David Caminer to senior members of the LEO team and programmers dated 16th July 1956, enclosing and summarising John Gosden's report on their visit to Ferranti to see the Pegasus machine on 10th July 1956. [Members of staff have initialled at the end of the memo, presumably to confirm they have read it];
• 183-186. John Gosden's report, Visit to the Ferranti Pegasus Computer;
• 187-189. Notes re visit to Elliots (sic, Elliott) on July 23rd 1956.

Research comments: Notes on a series of visit which seem to be LEO COmputers sizing up their competitors. Some interesting descriptions of the Elliott 405 and the Ferranti Pegasus computers including some comparisons with LEO I and LEO II. Also refers to the English Electric Deuce.

The Elliot 405 is referred to as a relatively slow serial computer using 16 word nickel delay lines for storage. It uses both magnetic drums and magnetic film which works along the lines Lyons had attempted with the failed STC conversion/reconversion equipment on LEO I. The team report that there is no sign of any process of marginal testing, which the LEO team considered to be essential in a commercial environment. The Elliott staff they met with considered LEO a close competitor.

The Ferranti Pegasus is referred to as a "splendidly engineered" compact machine. It has "a very high speed store of 128 double compartments, composed of double compartment nickel delay lines, and an auxiliary store housed on a drum of 4096 double compartments". The team are unimpressed with the demonstration clerical tasks they witness.

The team state that De Havilland have used the Pegasus at a similar speed to that which they have used LEO I for, although without the possibility of visible printing. Ferranti do not seem to have the commercial user in mind: "There is no evidence that Pegasus makes any particular concession to the differing needs of the clerical, as opposed to the mathematical, user. There is no built in conversion or reconversion. Separate input channels are not planned. The drum is limited to 4096 double compartments." In addition, "There is no evidence whatsoever of any experience in planning, programming, or operating clerical jobs, or in making a proper system survey or in framing a clerical system. Equally, and perhaps more surprising, experience in providing a full mathematical service, seems to be comparatively small." This leads John Gosden, the author ofthe Pegasus notes, to conclude that the Pegasus is no threat to LEO because "in the fundamental of having experience of clerical jobs, they are nowhere at all"! (LM)

Provenance :
From David Caminer's papers.