Marcel Porn
Marcel Porn (1884-1949)
1927 Address was of 72-78, Fleet-street, London, E.C.4. His business was converted into a private liability company, under the name of Porn and Dunwoody Ltd.[1]
1949 Obituary [2]
We have learned with regret of the death of Mr. Marcel Porn, governing director of Porn and Dunwoody, Ltd., which occurred suddenly on April 21st, at his home, Little Kingshill Grange, Great Missenden. Marcel Porn was born in Roumania in January, 1884, and received the earlier part of his education at the Evangelical Realschule, Brasso, Hungary. He then took a course at the Technical College, Mittweida, Germany, where he obtained a Final Certificate in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
Upon the completion of an apprenticeship with Julius Teutsch, of Brasso, Hungary, Mr. Porn took up an engineering appointment in the works of Metalurgica Romana, Bucharest, in 1903, and a few years afterwards became engineer to Credit Petrolifier, also of Bucharest. In that position he was closely concerned with the building and operation of Roumanian oil refineries. In 1909 Mr. Porn started business on his own account in Roumania as an engineering contractor and consulting engineer, which continued until 1916, when he took a commission in the Engineer Corps of the Roumanian Army.
After the first World War Mr. Porn came to this country, became a naturalised British subject and started an engineering business in London, which specialised mainly in lift installation work. The business was re-organised in 1927, under the style of Porn and Dunwoody, Ltd., and, with Marcel Porn as governing director, took over the agency for Stigler lifts and for Deutz oil engines. In connection with the latter agency, Mr. Porn will be particularly well remembered for his work on marine installations as well as on many other applications of the Deutz engine. At the outbreak of the last war the company concentrated on oil engine interests and on the production in this country of Deutz spares.
In addition to his active association with the firm which he established, Mr. Porn was a director of the West Cambrian Power Company. He was a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and of the Institute of Marine Engineers, and was also greatly interested in the traditions of the City of London, being a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners. Mr. Porn, who was a familiar figure at City functions had many friends and acquaintances in the British engineering industry, all of whom, in mourning his death, will not quickly forget his energy and creative ability.
1950 Obituary [3]
"MARCEL PORN, whose death occurred at Great Missenden, Bucks, on 21st April 1949, was governing director of Messrs. Porn and Dunwoody, Ltd., engineers.
He was born in Roumania in 1884, and, after receiving his early education at the Evangelical Realschule, at Brasso, Hungary, served his apprenticeship at the engineering works of Mr. Julius Teutsch in the same town, from 1898 to 1900. He then studied at the Technical College, Mittweida, Germany, where he obtained the diploma in electrical and mechanical engineering in 1902. In the following year he was employed for a brief period as an engineer in the works of Metalurgica Romana, Bucharest, before serving his term of military service. In 1905 he was appointed assistant to the chief engineer of the Credit Petrolifier Co, of Bucharest, and subsequently was placed in sole charge of the works.
During the erection of the largest oil refinery in Roumania he held the position of assistant engineer. He left this firm, however, in 1909 and went into business on his own account as an engineering contractor and consulting engineer, in which work he continued until 1916 when he received a commission in the Engineer Corps of the Roumanian Army. After the war of 1914-18 Mr. Porn came to this country, and in 1919 established an engineering works in London, specializing chiefly in lift installations. On the reorganization of the firm in 1927 under the style of Porn and Dunwoody, Ltd., he became governing director, and took over the agency for Stigler lifts and Deutz oil engines. In connection with this latter agency he will be particularly remembered for his work on marine installations which were fitted to about 30 per cent of British coasters of under 1,000 tons.
In addition he was a director of the West Cambrian Power Co and a past master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners. Mr. Porn was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1936, and was transferred to Membership in the following year."