Council Minutes 1936-1940

Minutes signed by successive Presidents.  Includes planning for Second World War [WWII] contingencies, national service and decisions on wartime operations. Routine discussions include: financial accounts; elections, resignations and decease of members; engineering papers discussed; and publications received, purchased or exchanged.

Items of note include (by meeting date):   

24 Jan-18 Dec 1936.  Purchase of portrait of James Watt from the Institution of Civil Engineers. First presentation of James Watt International Medal. Formation of Sub-Committee on Lubrication. Representative to Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrations of the Engineering Institute of Canada. Letter from Lord Askwith on his Arbitrations Bill. Summary of Institution Prize Funds.

29 Jan-17 Dec 1937. Agreement of Affiliation with Engineering Society of China. Staff Superannuation Scheme, age of retirement for staff. Jean Batten awarded Segrave Trophy. Amendment of By-law on quorum regulations at meetings. Magnus Mowat (1875-1953, Secretary) to attend Fiftieth Anniversary celebrations in Canada. Possible joint engineering publication. Changes of staff and employees compensation claim. Honorary Members' Book presented. Hele-Shaw National Certificate Prize. Engineering Research Council set up. Special Meeting to be held on Staff Superannuation Scheme proposed. Tenders for improvements to Institution lift. Modifications to Prize Funds. Christmas lecture to young people at Institution of Electrical Engineers.

21 Jan-18 Nov 1938. Lectures to and exhibitions for children, in co-operation with Engineering Joint Council. Alternative agendas for joint meeting with American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Engineering Joint Council propose Special Joint Committee of Constituent Institutions. Proposals for producing saleable charts in Refrigeration Research. Proposed purchase by Institution of lease on Old Queen St property. Questionnaire on availability of members for National Service. Revised syllabus on 'Properties and Strength of Materials' in Associate Membership examination. New syllabus on 'Workshop Technology'.

20 Jan-7 Dec 1939. Joint Committee with Production Engineers on Research into Machine Tools. Appointment of J.E. Montgomery (1882-1965) as new Secretary. National Service cards issued to members. Proposed Coat of Arms for Institution. Civilian and Royal Engineers Co-operation Committee formed. Silver Jubilee Appeal for Benevolent Fund. Production Engineering certificate only available to those with ONC in Mechanical Engineering. Agreement for using University Library, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Rules for Staff Superannuation Scheme. Summer meeting cancelled, report of emergency measures circulated upon outbreak of war. Institution basement to be used by Westminster City Council as air raid shelter. Proposed report on Institution Publications affected by war. Training to continue during war-time conditions. Discussion with solicitors on serving members' subscriptions.

19 Jan-13 Dec 1940. Lease taken on Betchworth property in case of emergency. Coal and Gas Engines Committee to report to government. Public schoolboys to assist in works. Engineering Applied to Agriculture Award instigated. Herbert Morrison (Minister of Supply) attends Institution meeting.  Staff appointed during war to be temporary. Compulsory Central Register of Engineers. Technical instruction for engineers in service.