Ridley James Urquhart
Ridley James Urquhart (1862-1925)
6, Clayton-square, Liverpool.
1893 Consulting engineer of Liverpool gained a patent with William Bowden on "Improvements in Elastic Wheel-tyres".
1897 Improved Differential Gear for Motor-Vehicles.[1]
1897 Consulting engineer of Liverpool gained a patent with William Bowden on "Improvements in or connected with Internal Combustion Engines Working with Liquid Hydro-carbons and Air".
1926 Obituary [2]
RIDLEY JAMES URQUHART was born at Barton-upon-Irwell on 23rd October 1862.
In 1875 he commenced his apprenticeship with Mr. John Chadwick of the Prince's Bridge Iron Works, Manchester, and completed his term from 1876 to 1880 at the Bridgewater Foundry of Messrs. Nasmyth, Wilson and Co., of Patricroft, near Manchester, during which time and subsequently he went through the usual course of studies in technical subjects.
On completing his indentures, he gained experience, as an improver and draughtsman, in various engineering works, including those of the Gas Meter Co., Ltd., at Oldham, and after spending about two years in a close study of coal-gas and water-gas production and of patent matters generally he commenced business in 1884 in Manchester on his own account as consulting mechanical engineer.
Two years later, in 1886, he added to his engineering practice that of patent-agent, with an additional office at Liverpool, and in time gained a large and important connexion.
During the War he was appointed inspector of aeroplane works at Luton, but when peace came he returned to his profession as consultant and patent agent, and opened, in 1923, a practice at Southampton. This continued up to the time of his death, which occurred on 20th December 1925.
Mr. Urquhart had wide experience on motor matters and was one of the pioneers in that industry, one of the earliest cars in Manchester being designed and built by him.
He became an Associate Member of this Institution in 1898.