"Specifications Open to Public Inspection - circulated to member Companies"

Patent Specifications newly "open to public inspection" following the lifting of a Secrecy Order on penicillin patents.

As Specifications became freely available, they were copied and circulated by the TRC Secretariat to TRC member companies. However, the labour involved in circulating re-typed patent specifications proved to be unsustainable, as noted in Memorandum No. 130 (22 April, 1947) from the TRC Secretary. The Memorandum begins: "Owing to the large number of Patent Specifications becoming open to inspection since the canellation of the Secrecy Order issued on Penicillin Chemical Patents, the Secretary regrets it will no longer be possible to assist member-companies by arranging for copies of Patent Specifications to be circulated as has been done in the past. Hitherto approximately one or two Patent Specifications monthly have arisen for circulation and this work was fitted in with the day to day work of the Secretariat. However, in the fortnight following March 27th, fourteen new Specifications open to inspection have come to our notice. In all, more than 265 pages are involved. Miss Lunnun started out with good will, and in two weeks, almost entirely occupied with this work, has been able to copy and have ready for circulation five of the Specifications involving just over 80 pages."

The limited nature of the collaboration between British and American researchers is highlighted in a letter (20 November, 1945) from Dr F Hartley to H Treves Brown (Glaxo Laboratories Ltd), who had expressed surprise that Wyeth's "crystalline penicillin specification" had not been shared before. Hartley replied: "There has[,] of course, been a full exchange of ideas in the agreed field only between those American firms accepting contracts in the field from OSRD and British firms who had entered into arrangements with MRC in the field of penicillin chemistry and synthesis. Wyeth Inc were not contractors to OSRD in the penicillin chemical field, and therefore no reports have been received from Wyeth by MRC." Hartley then lists the American companies that had contracts with OSRD.

1945-1948

1 file (in 2 parts) Large file split into 2 parts, arranged chronologically, earliest date first.

WF/TRC/02/199.

Copyright assigned to the Wellcome Trust