Henry Alonso House
Henry Alonzo House (1840-1930)
1840 Born in Brooklyn, New York
Began work in his father's architects office in New York and then in Illinois.
1859 Switched to mechanical engineering
1861 Invented a button-hole sewing machine; this was taken up by the Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine Manufacturing Co. Henry House worked for the company for 6 years.
c.1870 Set up in business for himself, inventing and manufacturing several machines of his own design with a staff of up to 300 people. This continued for the next 19 years.
1872 Having invented several improvements in knitting machines, he established Armstrong and House Manufacturing Co.
Continued to invented and develop various machines for a variety of production processes including bundling firewood and cleaning seal skins.
1883 Invented a paper box-making machine and established the Compressed Paper Box Co of Bridgeport.
1889-1891 Assisted Hiram Maxim in the problem of aerial navigation.
1889 Applied for a US passport which was to be sent to Maxim and Nordenfelt Iron Works, Crayford, Kent[1]
1891 Living at Baldwyds, The Heath, Dartford: Henry A. House (age 50 born Brooklyn, U.S.), Mechanical Engineer. With his wife Mary E. House (age 49 born Pennsylvania, U.S.) and their four children; Henry A. House (age 27 born Connecticut), Mechanical Engineer; Kena C. House (age 21 born Connecticut); L. Grace House (age 15 born Connecticut); and Bertha V. House (age 11 born Connecticut). One servant.[2]
1892 Started work on applying residual oil for heating purposes, which developments were subsequently taken up by the Liquid Fuel Engineering Co.
1896 Mechanical engineer, of the Liquid Fuel Engineering Co, Columbine Ship Yard, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, became a member of the Inst of Mech Eng[3].
1897 Appointed United States Vice and deputy-Consul at Southampton.[4]
By 1900, Henry House was living in Bridgeport, Conn., USA, a mechanical engineer, with several members of his family[5]
1930 Died in Bridgeport, Conn., USA
See Also
Sources of Information
- Family tree posted on Ancestry