Description
Author: Mark C.S.Barnard, Softbound, 161 Pages, ISBN: 1872922236, Historical Series No 34, 1st Edition, 2003
This is a story. It is a true story about engineers within the British car industry 'doing their bit' from the 1940s onwards. Thanks to the imaginative management of the Rover Company in that period, a great deal of pioneering engineering on small gas turbines was embarked upon and the work created a lot of 'firsts'. Other companies sometimes did the job better — but at a later date and usually at much greater expense.
The idea to write the book came after reading the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust book (No 22) entitled Vikings at Waterloo by David Brooks. The description of the way Rover became involved in Sir Frank Whittle's initial work in aero gas turbines, up to 1943, stimulated me so strongly that! asked David if he would also write about all the subsequent Rover turbine work. His answer, friendly but determined, was "No!". He then said that clearly the best person to write it was me. From 1953, I was in that Rover group of people and knew many of them personally, was interested in stetting it all in print, and so had better get on with it. After the shock had passed, T had to admit he had a point and I have, in fact, enormously enjoyed doing it.
The total number employed on small gas turbine work by the Rover Company and its subsidiary, Rover Gas Turbines, amounted to 250 or so over a period of 30 years and it is from some of these, whose names are listed on the frontispiece, that I gleaned much of the information here published. Whilst turbine history, design and events feature strongly, a number of amusing stories have also been included as they reflect well the general atmosphere that existed amongst those involved.! have worked in the main from tape-recorded conversations with these colleagues and, having first not known what to say, they needed only a question about when they originally came to Rover to prompt a flood of memories lasting for the full tape or, in one case, for six whole tapes. Also, several of them have written (or re-written) parts of a chapter when their memory has surpassed my own.
This book is intended as a tribute to a group of engineers whose praise was rarely Ring — more usual were reprimands for getting home late, spoiling the weekend or even, occasionally, being out all night.
My earnest thanks to those who contributed, and to my wife for typing and editing.
