Frank Clements Knowles
Frank Clements Knowles (1881-1951)
1951 Obituary.[1]
Frank Clements Knowles, who died on the 4th March, 1951, was born on the 8th July, 1881. He was educated privately and at East London College (now Queen Mary College). After spending a few months as an assistant in the test room, first with W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co. at North Woolwich and then with Foxcroft and Duncan at Dalston, he went to Evershed and Vignoles as Manager of the Instrument Test Department, and he remained with that company for the rest of his life. He joined the Company in 1900, at a time when instruments and industrial measurements were just beginning to be appreciated at their true value, and he was for several years associated with the development, manufacture and testing of the company's products. In 1911 he became Technical Assistant to the Managing Director, the late Mr. E. B. Vignoles, and in 1923 he was appointed Sales Manager. He held this position for 26 years and was then made a director of the Company. His sympathetic and generous nature endeared him to his many friends; his boundless energy was devoted unsparingly to the interests of the Company; and his sound technical knowledge and good judgment commanded the highest respect of his business associates.
He joined The Institution as a Student in 1901 and was elected an Associate in 1903, an Associate Member in 1913 and a Member in 1932. He was elected Chairman of the Meter and Instruments Section (now the Measurements Section) in 1931. He was also a Member of the Association of Mining Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, having been President of the London Branch in 1934-35, and a Founder Member of the Society of Instrument Technology.
1951 Obituary.[2]
F. C. Knowles
We regret to learn that Mr. F . C. Knowles died, in his seventieth year, on Sunday, March 4th, after a long illness, at his home in Chidham, Sussex. He was a well-known figure in the instrument industry and almost the whole of his working life was devoted to the advancement of the science and practice of measurement.
Frank Clements Knowles was born in Stoke and received his early education privately. Later he won a scholarship at the East London College (now Queen Mary College), where he took courses in mechanical and electrical engineering, after which he specialised in electrical testing at University College, London. His early industrial experience was gained at W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works, Ltd., North Woolwich, and subsequently with Messrs. Foxcroft and Duncan, Dalston, successors to Paterson and Cooper, Ltd.
In 1900 Mr. Knowles joined Evershed and Vignoles, and was, for many years, concerned with the development, manufacture and testing of the company's products. He became technical assistant to the managing director, the late Mr. E. B. Vignoles in 1911, and was made sales manager in 1923. When he retired from this position twenty-six years later, he was appointed a director of the company.
Mr. Knowles was a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and a past-chairman of its Measurements Section. He was also a member of the Association of Mining Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and served as President of its London Branch in 1934-35. Among the technical societies that claimed his close interest was the Society of Instrument Technology; he was a founder member and served on its first council.