Sprague's first law (framing principle, not a case)

Bob Sprague (head of materials, GE aircraft engines, Cincinnati): first reported properties of a new material are the best it will ever have. Corollary (Jim Williams): first price is the lowest it will ever have.

That brings up this slide. I've quoted this before, from Bob Sprague, who was head of materials for General Electric aircraft engines in Cincinnati for many years: whenever you first hear about the properties of a new material, write it down — those are the best properties the material will ever have. This is actually Jim Williams' slide; he gave this to me once after he heard me quote Bob Sprague. He calls it Sprague's first law: whenever you first hear about the material, write it down. His corollary: whenever you first hear about the price of a new material, write it down, and that's the lowest price it will ever have. Materials scientists tend to oversell their materials big time, because they want you to believe they just discovered the Rosetta Stone of materials and everything will be made out of their material next year. Doesn't quite work that way.