David Theodore Nelson Williamson, 15 February 1923 - 10 May 1992

Abstract

Theo Williamson was one of the most creative engineers of his generation and was an outstanding example of what able students can make of their engineering education despite earlier setbacks. His first achievements were in the field of radio and sound amplification: he became known all over the world for his ‘Williamson amplifier’ of which hundreds of thousands were built. Working for Ferranti in Edinburgh from 1946-60 he became involved in precision measurement and machine tool control, and was closely involved with the development of the Ferranti grating measurement system which remains unsurpassed as a means of linear measurement down to 1 µm. As a result of contact over a special cam-making machine, Williamson became known to the Molins Machine Company and was invited to become Director of Research and Development at Deptford in 1961. By the application of fundamental engineering principles and the introduction of some skilled designers, he was able to make dramatic improvements in the performance of Molins’ cigarette making machinery and to place his company as world leader in its field. He soon concluded, that for the company’s continued success, major changes would be necessary in their manufacturing methods. This led to his evolution of ‘System 24’ which was the precursor of today’s automated factory running non-stop round the clock. He evolved designs for computer controlled machine tools capable of very high production rates on aluminium alloy components. A special purpose-built building was erected for a demonstration of System 24 with its associated automatic handling equipment. This project, which was enthusiastically supported by the Ministry of Technology, was cancelled within a few months of its completion, owing to changes of management and ownership in the Company. At the time of these critical decisions, Williamson was seriously ill and not able to defend his brain child as he would have done had he been fit. In spite of this great disappointment, Williamson stayed on with Molins until 1974 when he moved to become Group Director of Engineering for Rank Xerox Ltd He retired from this position in 1976 and moved his home to Italy, where he had found a house in Perugia with splendid views over Lake Trasimeno. He maintained his interest in developments in the United Kingdom and contributed important papers to the National Economic Development Office (NEDO) and Science Research Council (SRC) Committees and to the professional institutions. Williamson must rate as one of the major innovators of his generation, and his achievement is particularly notable as he spanned a number of branches of engineering which tend to be compartmentalized.