James Fiddes Brown
James Fiddes Brown (1857-1934)
1934 Obituary [1]
JAMES FIDDES BROWN was chief engineer of the S.S. Iona at the time when it was tested under the direction of the late Sir Alexander Kennedy, M.I.Mech.E. (Past-President), for the Marine Engine Trials Committee of the Institution.
Mr. Brown was born in 1857; he received his education at Framlingham College, and served an apprenticeship from 1873 to 1878 at the Ipswich works of Messrs. Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies. He remained with that firm for another year as a draughtsman, after which he went to sea as engineer for Messrs. T. Richardson and Sons of Hartlepool, a firm later absorbed by Messrs. Richardsons, Westgarth and Company,
After a further period as a draughtsman he again went to sea, and eventually obtained an extra first-class Board of Trade certificate.
In 1887 he was appointed chief engineer for Messrs. Richardsons upon vessels during the guarantee period of six months. He was subsequently engaged in a similar capacity at the Central Engine Works of Sir William Gray and Company, West Hartlepool. At this period he became chief engineer of S.S. Iona.
In 1891 he turned to electrical engineering and accepted the position of assistant engineer to the Westminster Electric Supply Company, of which Sir Alexander Kennedy was consulting engineer, and was occupied at the Millbank and Davies Street Stations.
After a period as resident engineer at Claybury Asylum, Essex, he became in 1898 assistant engineer of the Charing Cross Electric Supply Company under the late Mr. William H. Patchell, M.I.Mech.E. (Past-President). He carried out many efficiency trials of machinery at the Lambeth station, where he was in charge both of the operation of the plant and of extensions to the buildings.
In 1906 he went to Buenos Aires for Messrs. J. G. White and Company to superintend the erection of a power station for the Lacroze Tramways Company.
He returned to England in 1909, after which he took up financial interests.
Mr. Brown had been a Member of the Institution since 1892.
He died on 26th March 1934.