The correspondence concerns the first MS2 mass spectrometer designed and built by Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Ltd in Manchester, which was purchased by Oxford University’s Physical Chemistry Laboratory (PCL). This consists of letters, data tables, charts, schematics, and shipping and advice notes.

The letters and notes chiefly demonstrate the frequent early problems, and resulting frustrations, with the unit, along with collaborations and data sharing. Much of the correspondence is between Dr C.J. Danby, of Oxford University's Physical Chemistry Laboratory, and J. Blears, in the Research Department (later Chief Engineer in their Scientific Apparatus Department) at Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical, as well as correspondence from W.J. Brown and other members of Metropolitan-Vickers Research and New Product Sales departments.

Parts of the mass spectrometer (inv. no. 1970-379) was presented to the Science Museum in July 1970 and is in the Experimental Chemistry collection.