Warren Boden Warren Smith
Warren Boden Warren Smith (1865-1948)
1865 Born in London, son of Edward George Warren Smith, gas fitter
1882-7 Served his time with his father
1890 Became assistant manager of Warren Smith and Co
1892 Developed the first "ejector" gas burner
1893 Developed platinum projector lamp for mirror galvanometers
1894 Developed method of measuring the expansion of metal
1896 Developed a method of burning actyelene with oxygen
1898 Assisted in experiments in road traction
1922 A.M.I.Mech.E., Mechanical Engineer (Consulting, Experimental and Invention), 66, Elystan Street, London, S.W.3. T. N.: Kensington 1108. b. 1865; s. of Edward George Warren Smith and Mary Ann Warren Smith. Ed. Private, and Framlingham College, Suffolk. Apprenticed to Warren Smith and Co., attended Technical Classes at Regent Street Polytechnic, Finsbury Technical College, and minor technical schools. Original experimental work on refractory oxides for lighting; invented the "Ejector" atmospheric gas burner; experimented with oxygen and acetylene gases in combination, claims to be the first to have used them in combination for heating purposes, also obtained a very high candle-power light from same by special association; invented several lamps for projection purposes, including a small atmospheric gas burner with platinum for mirror galvanometers; invented several mechanical devices, also a motor driven by heat expansion of metal; carried out many light and photographic experiments; discovered, near end of last century, that it was possible to produce a definite visual image without light. Had charge of the Mechanical Engineering Department of Warren Smith and Co. and became partner in same firm in 1900, and remained up to end of 1915. War Services.—Ministry of Munitions for three years—first as an Outside Engineer in Trench Warfare Department, afterwards became a Dilution Officer when the demand for skilled labour became acute.
1949 Obituary [1]
"WARREN BODEN WARREN SMITH, whose death at the age of eighty-three occurred on 14th September 1948, was identified with the firm of Messrs. Warren Smith and Company, general engineers, London, for the whole of his professional career, including his apprenticeship from 1882 to 1887.
He was educated at Framlingham College and received his technical training at the Regent Street Polytechnic, London, and the Finsbury Technical College. In 1890 he was appointed assistant manager and placed in charge of the factory. He was admitted to partnership ten years later.
During the war of 1914-18 he was attached to the Ministry of Munitions as outside engineer and subsequently he served as a dilution officer in the Ministry of Labour. On the completion of his war services he returned to Messrs. Warren Smith and Company, with whom he remained until his retirement in 1934. In the course of his long association with the firm Mr. Warren Smith conducted many experiments and was responsible for numerous inventions, including the first ejector gas burner and a device for burning acetylene gas with oxygen. He had been an Associate Member of the Institution since 1906."
See Also
Sources of Information
- Mechanical engineer records