Frederick Best

Frederick Best ( -1940)

1919 Writes on behalf of Thomas Firth and Sons

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1940 Obituary.

FREDERICK BEST died on August 12, 1940, at his home at Ross- on-Wye ; he was seventy-four years of age. He had been engaged in the steel industry since 1882, when he began work with Messrs. William Jessop and Sons, Ltd., Sheffield. He stayed for over twelve years with this company, until, in 1895, he was appointed head of the steel foundry department of Messrs. Thos. Firth and Sons, Ltd., Sheffield, of which company he became secretary in 1902, special director in 1909, and, finally, director of the Tinsley steel department. During this career he travelled widely on behalf of his firm, in the United States, Canada, Russia and other European countries. In addition to his duties as director and secretary he acted also as the nominee director of Messrs. Thos. Firth and Sons, Ltd., on the boards of the Firth-Brearley Stainless Steel Syndicate, High Speed Alloys, Ltd. (of Widnes), and Firth-Derihon Stampings, Ltd.

When the last war broke out, he took an active part in the arrangements for producing tungsten powder, which previously had been entirely imported from Germany. Besides he acted as honorary secretary of the Aircraft Steelmakers’ Committee, and the Ministry of Munitions appointed him a member of the Advisory Committee charged with the duty of arranging for the supply of high-speed steel to the allies.

In 1922 he left Messrs. Thos. Firth and Sons, Ltd., to become commercial manager of Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Co., Ltd., Middlesbrough.

Mr. Best was for many years a member of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of British Industries and the Society of British Aircraft Constructors.

Mr. Best was elected a Member of The Iron and Steel Institute in 1904.

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