Robert James McLeod
Robert James McLeod (1882-1949), Managing Director of the Power Plant Co., Ltd.
1949/50 Obituary [1]
ROBERT JAMES McLEOD. Mr. R. J. McLeod, Chairman and Managing Director of the Power Plant Co., Ltd., West Drayton, Middlesex, died on 27 December 1949.
Robert James McLeod was born at West Hartlepool in 1882, and served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Richardson, Westgarth and Co.
Afterwards, in 1903, he went to sea as an engineer, becoming a chief engineer with the Furness Line.
Ten years later Mr. McLeod forsook the sea in order to become general manager of the Steam Fittings Co., Ltd., and while he was with that firm he designed and patented a number of special valves, steam traps, etc.
In 1918 he joined the board of the Power Plant Co., Ltd., as managing director, in which position he continued until his death. For the last ten years he had also been chairman of the company.
Mr. McLeod's chief interest lay in the improvement and development of gear-cutting processes and plant, and he was the sole patentee of the "Finroc" process of gear shaving. He was a founder member and Past-President of the British Gear Manufacturers' Association.
Mr. McLeod joined the Institute of Metals in 1917.
1950 Obituary [2]