Leo Daft
Leo Daft (1843-1922)
1843 Born in Birmingham.
1866 Emigrated to the USA.
1879 Joined the New York Electric Light Co.
1883 Built an electric locomotive called the Ampere.
His company went on to produce a wide range of electrical equipment
1922 He died on 28 March.
The above information is condensed from the Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology[1]
In the newspaper archive of the National Library of Australia, there at least 67 references to Leo Daft between 1880 and 1920. As well as his work on electric trams, he was a pioneer of using electricity for geo-physics mapping. A technique much used these days in Archaeology. One of the first trials was at Gronant, near Prestatyn, north Wales.[2]
Leo Daft was the son of Thomas B. Daft (1816-1878) and Emma Matilda Sturges (1814-1863). Thomas Daft, an engineer, ran Daft and Co, makers of greenhouses, conservatories, etc. In 1858, Leo was a draughtsman for the company. He became interested in electrical engineering, and emigrated to New York City in 1866. In 1867 he was in Philadelphia and took up photography, and then opened a studio in New York City in 1869, In 1871 he married Catherine Anna Flansbaugh (1843-1917). He relocated his studio to Troy, New York. In 1878, he embarked on a career in electric light and power generation, undertaking major work in New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, and New Jersey. He built one of the first electric locomotives.[3]