Frederick John Cox
Frederick John Cox (1860-1936)
1936 Obituary [1]
FREDERICK JOHN COX was a pioneer in the introduction of surface combustion appliances, in connexion with which he held several patents.
He was born in 1860 and received his education at Queen's College, Taunton, and in France.
In 1878 he became an apprentice in the Oakley Works, Chelsea, of Messrs. S. Worssam and Company, and served for three years, after which he was employed for two years in the repair shops of the Great Western Railway at Paddington.
He then went into business on his own account as a mechanical engineer, and specialized in the manufacture of machines for the pianoforte trade and of appliances used by dentists. Subsequently he turned his attention to the design and manufacture of plant for producing gas from oils.
In 1906 he founded Cox's Air Gas Company, at Camden Town, which manufactured petrol air gas plants, chiefly for lighting installations for public buildings and large country houses. In the same year he was elected a Member of the Institution.
After the War he became interested in Professor W. A. Bone's invention for the surface combustion of gases.
He acquired in 1921 the controlling interest in a company trading as Radiant Heating, Ltd., and after some years of research work he succeeded in perfecting the system of surface combustion employed in its products, and in producing reliable burners, which attracted the attention of the gas industry.
Subsequently Mr. Cox took out a number of new patents of his own in connexion with the manufacture of surface combustion appliances, and he became a director of the company.
At the time of his death, which occurred on 12th May 1936, negotiations were well advanced for the production of his surface combustion burners in several European countries.