Edward Jordan
Edward Jordan (1848-1917)
Manager, Cardiff Junction Dry Dock and Engineering Works, Cardiff.
1917 Obituary [1]
EDWARD JORDAN was born at Llanelly, Breconshire, on 3rd January 1848.
He began his engineering career at the Blaenavon Ironworks when ten years of age, and was next employed at the Isca Foundry, Newport. For some years he was principal assistant to Mr. Thomas Thomas, mining engineer, of Cardiff, and was responsible for the designing and carrying out of many large pit-head frames, and colliery winding and pumping machines.
In 1878 he became draughtsman to Messrs. Parfitt and Jenkins, Hayes Foundry, and subsequently was employed in the same capacity at the Tubal Cain Engineering Works, the Commercial Dry Dock Works, Cardiff, and the Cardiff Junction Dry Dock. At the latter place, where he was manager for nearly forty years, the whole of the engines, boilers, and pumping machinery were not only designed, but constructed by Mr. Jordan without any outside contract.
Perhaps the best known work of his in this connexion was the widening and altering the shape of the entrance to the Junction Dock, which, before the alteration, necessitated all vessels to enter or leave at right angles, and this work was also carried out by the firm's own workmen. He was also responsible for, at that time, a novel method of lifting and lowering in their entirety the main engines and boilers of large steamers without breaking a joint of piping. He was a prolific inventor, and some years ago devised a method of insulating the• brass sleeve of tail-end shafts from the steelwork.
He also designed and brought out a small pumping engine, so that a constant stream of water could be delivered without the slightest shock.
His death took place after a long illness, at his residence in Cardiff, on 13th May 1917, at the age of sixty-nine.
He was elected a Member of this Institution in 1883.