John Frederick Russell collection

The collection comprises letters, reports and calculations relating to the design of the canopy for Donald Campbell's Bluebird. Included are fourteen letters to John Frederick Russell from Norris Brothers Ltd, and one letter to "Jack" regarding the effects of temperature on perspex (with list of calculations and graph), presumably from Russell. There are also reports by Russell on the canopy design for a land-speed record car, and addenda, as well as draft copies of both.

The late John Frederick Russell worked on aircraft design as a stress engineer for Vickers-Armstrong at Swindon and Hurn. He acted as an independent consultant to Norris Brothers Ltd, who worked with Donald Campbell on the Bluebird car. According to his son, John Russell was approached by Norris Brothers Ltd as an expert in cockpit design (being the only one at Hurn), to check the stress and other calculations for the cockpit (which had already been designed) - a "top secret" process.

Open to researchers, by appointment. For further information, please see: nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/Motoring_research_service

Please apply to the Archivist if you would like to make any copy of the material.

Please see the Bluebird collection.