Papers of David Macleish Smith, 1900-1986, consulting mechanical engineer, England

Scope and Content

  • Doctoral thesis, 1932;
  • Technical notes, 1932-80;
  • Published works, 1925-1980;
  • Manuscript works, 1963-1977;
  • Slides, 1977;
  • Papers relating to Ardblair Stone Circle, 1978;
  • Letters of condolence, 1986.

Administrative / Biographical History

David Macleish Smith was born in Elgin, Scotland, in 1900 . He was educated at Blairgowrie High School and the University of Glasgow, Scotland, graduating in 1920 with a BSc (Engineering). He also received, from the University of Glasgow, a DSc in 1932  for his thesis On the motion of a rotor carried by a flexible shaft in flexible bearings, and an honorary LLD in 1967. During the 1914-1918 World War, David Smith served as a private in the Gordon Highlanders, returning to his studies at Glasgow University when he was demobbed in 1919. His working career began in 1920 when he went to Manchester, England as an apprentice to Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Company Ltd. He stayed with the company, which was later known as Associated Electrical Industries Ltd, until he retired in 1966 . At Metropolitan Vickers, he carried out pioneering work in the development of the first British axial flow jet engine for aircraft. He became a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (MIMechE) in 1938 and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) in 1949. He was awarded the Silver Medal of the Royal Aeronautical Society and was a founder Fellow of the Fellowship of Engineering. His publications included Journal Bearings in Turbomachinery, 1969 and various technical papers. David Smith died on 3 August 1986 .

Arrangement

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Deposit: Joyce Kendrick, Altrincham, Cheshire: 1987: ACCN 990; Deposit: Moira Kendrick, Altrincham, Cheshire: 1990: ACCN 1141

Other Finding Aids

Digital file level list available in searchroom. Manual file level list available at the National Registers of Archives in Edinburgh (NRA(S)) and London (NRA) NRA 21083

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures

Custodial History

Received from relatives of creator after his death

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

No related material

Location of Originals

This material is original

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives, ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999and National Council on Archives, Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Fonds level compiled by Janice Miller, Archive Assistant, 04 June 2003. Lower levels converted to Encoded Archival Description by Michael Beesley, Archive Assistant, July 2013.