Thomas Turner (1856-1909)
Thomas Turner (1856-1909) of Andrew Barclay, Sons and Co
1881 Lodging in Sheffield Brightside Bierlow, Mechanical Engineer & Draughtsman[1]
1882 One of the Editors of "Mechanical World", Manchester[2]
1885 Listed at the New British Iron Works, Corngreaves, near Birmingham[3]
1891 Thomas Turner 34, manager of iron and steel works, lived in Stourbridge with Rebecca I Turner 33[4]
1909 Obituary [5]
THOMAS TURNER was born at Blaydon-on-Tyne on 28th July 1856.
Having gained a Whitworth Scholarship, he served an apprenticeship on the Tyneside with Messrs. Nicholson and Wilson, and subsequently he had a varied practical experience in engineering, not only at home but in India.
He was successively steel works manager to Messrs. Joseph Fenton and Son, Sheffield, manager to Messrs. Nicholson and Wilson, of Blaydon-on-Tyne, where his apprenticeship was served, works manager to the New British Iron Co., Corngreaves, and works manager at the Shelton Iron and Steel Co.
For a time he was associated in the management of The Mechanical World, and acted as its editor for about a year.
In 1895 he was appointed general manager for Messrs. Andrew Barclay, Sons, and Co., of the Caledonia Works, Kilmarnock, and afterwards became managing director, which position he occupied at the date of his death.
During his management the works were repeatedly extended, and their equipment brought up to date. He devoted himself considerably to the improvement of the design and manufacture of the Barclay standard locomotives and colliery winding-engines, and for the latter he designed several special safety-devices.
He also developed the modern high-speed reciprocating pump known as the Oddie-Barclay pump, the Barclay drum-pattern fan, and other specialities. On behalf of his firm he investigated the working of kindred businesses both in Europe and America.
His death took place, after a short illness, at his residence in Kilmarnock on 7th August 1909, at the age of fifty-three.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1882; he was also a Member of Council of the Federated Mining Institute and of the West of Scotland Iron and Steel Institute, a Member of the Institution of Mining Engineers and of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland.
Obituary 1909 [6]
. . . managing director of the firm of Andrew Barclay, Sons and Co . . . joined the service of the company as general manager on 1st April 1895 . . . was successively steel works manager to Joseph Fenton and Sons, Sheffield; manager to Nicholson and Wilson, Blaydon-on-Tyne; and works manager to the New British Iron Co, Corngreaves; and prior to his joining Barclays he was works manager of the Shelton Iron and Steel Co, Stoke-on-Trent.
1909 Obituary [7]
THOMAS TURNER, managing director of Messrs. Andrew Barclay, Sons, and Co., Ltd., Caledonia Works, Kilmarnock, died on Saturday, August 7, 1909, at the age of fifty-three.
He was a native of Blaydon-on-Tyne, and in his youth distinguished himself as a Whitworth scholar. Electing to be an engineer, he served his apprenticeship on Tyneside with Messrs. Nicholson & Wilson, and subsequently had a wide and varied practical experience, working his way up from post to post, and always improving his position. During his career he was successively steelworks manager to Messrs. Joseph Fenton & Sons, Sheffield; editor of the Mechanical World, published in Manchester; works manager to the New British Iron Company, Corngreaves; and works manager to the Shelton Iron and Steel and Coal Company, Ltd.; Stoke-on-Trent.
He had also a large experience of practical engineering in India. Under his able and energetic management the works at Kilmarnock were very largely reconstructed and enlarged and the business of the firm greatly extended. Always keeping the company's interests foremost in his mind, Mr. Turner devoted unceasing attention to the business, and the present extensive and admirably equipped works are a standing monument to his foresight and capacity. He was a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers; a member of the Council of the Federated Mining Institute of Great Britain and of the West of Scotland Iron and Steel Institute; a member of the Institute of Mining Engineers and of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland; and for some time past he filled the office of President of the Kilmarnock Branch of the Engineering Employers' Federation.
He was elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1886.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1881 census
- ↑ I.Mech.E. Membership
- ↑ I.Mech.E. Membership - not sure this statement of the ref. is correct
- ↑ 1891 census
- ↑ 1909 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Obituaries
- ↑ The Engineer 1909/08/13
- ↑ 1909 Iron and Steel Institute: Obituaries