Transmission note to Mr. Cadiau and snapshot of a magnetic metal particle

In this document

A transmission note

Page 11 bears a brief handwritten note addressed "For Mr. Cadiau", indicating that it must "be handed to him at the next session with Mr. Magès", and setting an appointment: "Monday 8-7-4:30 PM" p. 11. We also note the presence of a small metal object (paperclip or staple) on the edge of the page, as well as an ink trace at the top left, without being able to draw anything further from it.

A photograph of a metal particle

Page 12 presents an enlarged photograph (×3 magnification) of a particle described as "Magnetic metal particle" p. 12. The image shows an irregularly shaped and rounded fragment, dark blue-grey in the centre, surrounded by a lighter outline. A handwritten annotation appears under the image, but its content is not reproduced in the available transcription.

No date, no test context, nor precise identification of the origin of this particle are given by the document itself.

Context

Mr. Cadiau (or Cadiou, depending on the spelling encountered in other documents in the collection) appears associated with the BEA (Automotive Design Office) in other archives linked to this file, particularly regarding steering incidents on DS 19 that occurred in 1963. At Citroën, the analysis of magnetic metal particles could fall under quality control or post-incident expertise — for example, to look for traces of wear or breakage in a mechanical component (steering, suspension). However, nothing in this document allows us to affirm a direct link with a specific incident: this connection remains a hypothesis of external context, not attested here.

Archivist's perspective

This very short piece probably functions as a simple transmission slip accompanying a piece of technical evidence — the photograph of the particle — intended to be examined or discussed during a meeting with Paul Magès p. 11.

The bringing together of the note and the snapshot suggests that it was a material element deemed important enough to be photographed in close-up and handed over in person, rather than simply described in writing.

The name of Mr. Cadiau evokes that of Mr. Cadiou, encountered in several documents in the collection linked to investigations into DS 19 steering incidents, such as the Note from Mr. Clément (Super Control) to Mr. Cadiou (BEA) on Mr. Mahoudeau's accident or the Internal SNECMA note no. 63/667. However, it is not possible, on the sole basis of this document, to establish a certain link between this metal particle and these cases: it is a line of inquiry to be confirmed rather than a conclusion.