Herbert Henry Baker
Herbert Henry Baker (1877-1948)
1948 Obituary [1]
"WE regret to have to record the death of Mr. Herbert Henry Baker, which occurred on November 2nd, at his home at Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Until his retirement in 1942 he was a partner in the consulting firm of Merz and McLellan, most of his work being carried oat from the Newcastle-upon-Tyne office. Mr. Baker was born at Tamworth in 1877, and served an apprenticeship with W. G. Bagnall, Ltd., of Stafford. His engineering training was continued in the works of Ferranti, Ltd., and Siemens Brothers and Co., Ltd., and in 1902 he joined the staff of Merz and McLellan as chief draughtsman. At that time Charles Merz, in partnership with William McLellan, was beginning to put into practice on the North-East Coast ideas for making electricity more generally available for all purposes over a wide area, and concentrating generation on the most economic sites. In these and subsequent developments Herbert Baker took a prominent part, as, soon after being appointed to the staff of Merz and McLellan, he took charge of all the steam and electrical engineering work which the firm was handling. In 1927, Baker was invited to become a partner in the firm, and he continued in that capacity until ill-health compelled him to retire in 1942...Read more "
1949 Obituary [2]
"HERBERT HENRY BAKER was a prominent engineer and had been associated with the firm of Messrs. Merz and McLellan, consulting engineers, Westminster, for forty years.
He was born in 1877 and after serving his apprenticeship with Messrs. W. G. Bagnall and Company, Ltd., of Stafford, from 1893 to 1898, he was employed as a draughtsman by various firms, including Messrs. Ferranti, Ltd., and Messrs. Siemens Brothers at Woolwich. In 1902 he began his long connection with Messrs. Merz and McLellan, with the post of chief draughtsman, and after a brief experience was entrusted with the charge of all steam and mechanical work in the office.
He was admitted to partnership in 1927 and continued to act in that capacity until ill health compelled his retirement in 1942. Mr. Baker was known as an authority on power-station design and more especially for his wide knowledge and experience of boiler-house plant. He was closely concerned with the design and construction of the Carville, Dunston, Lots Road, Barking, North Tees, and other important power stations in Great Britain. In addition, he was closely associated with other undertakings in Australia, South Africa, and India, as well as with pioneer installations in Chicago. He devised the well-known traversing coal Shute on mechanical stokers, and contributed a great deal to the development of higher steam pressures and temperatures. Mr. Baker had been an Associate Member of the Institution since 1903. His death occurred at Whitley Bay, Northumberland, on 2nd November 1948."