Alexander Spencer
Alexander Spencer (1859-1936), chairman of George Spencer, Moulton and Co, also of George Spencer and Co
1859 Born the son of George Spencer (1810-1889)
1936 Obituary [1]
ALEXANDER SPENCER was chairman of Messrs. George Spencer, Moulton and Company, Ltd., rubber spring manufacturers, a firm founded by his father. He had been associated with the business for no less than fifty-six years.
Mr. Spencer was born in 1859. He was educated at University College School, and served a four years' apprenticeship, terminating in 1880, under Mr. S. W. Johnson, M.I.Mech.E., at the Midland Railway works, Derby.
In the latter year he joined his father's firm, and was made a partner in 1882, becoming chairman in 1919. He was thus associated with the development of the firm's products for a very long period, and was instrumental in obtaining patents for no less than 177 devices or improvements, many of which were entirely due to himself. In particular he was associated with invention of the double buffer, the development of various systems of auxiliary bearing springs, and the use of rubber in railway constructional work, but the entire range which the patents covered was very wide and included flexible rubber train pipes, vacuum brake apparatus, drawgear, carriage and wagon doors, heating and lighting apparatus, superheaters, axleboxes, and bogies.
Mr. Spencer was chairman of the General Railway Signal Company, Ltd., of the Superheater Company, Ltd., and of the Lightfoot Refrigeration Company, Ltd.
In addition he was a director of the Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company, Ltd., and president of the Research Association of British Rubber Manufacturers.
He had been a Member of the Institution for no less than forty-nine years, having been elected in 1887.
His death occurred on 13th June 1936.