Dear Sir, or Madam,

I've often wanted to print and frame this quotation
and hang it in every mechanical test lab I've ever
been associated with.  However, I've never seen it in
print, let alone with credit to the author, and maybe
a date.

"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions."

When I first heard this rule stated, I was already
working for my third employer, as a metallurgical
engineer in a steel mill, in 1977.  We had both a
Riehle U.T.M. and a Tinius-Olsen U.T.M., and the
technician who performed our annual calibration told
me the quotation came from Riehle Testing Machine
Company. 

A few more employers, and test labs later, I'm hopeful
you'll be able to help me pass along this wise old
axiom with proper credit to the actual author (and
possible year of quote, or years of birth and death).

Sincerely,

Michael Nutt
Director, Materials Research & Quality Assurance
Spinal Innovations, Inc.
Bartlett, TN
e-mail:  mikenutt @ spinalinnovations .com
(Spaces added to deter automated misuse of email address)