Thomas Edward Riddle
Thomas Edward Riddle (1875-1940)
1940 Obituary [1]
THOMAS EDWARD RIDDLE was born in 1875 and was apprenticed to Messrs. Grenfell and Accles, Perry Barr, Birmingham, from 1891 to 1895. After employment by Messrs. H. W. Ward and Company as draughtsman engaged upon machine tool work and by Messrs. Accles, Ltd., as draughtsman engaged upon general machinery and internal combustion engines, he joined Messrs. Vickers, Ltd., at their Erith ordnance works, where he remained from 1898 to 1920.
He was first employed as chief tool draughtsman, and subsequently as production manager for the whole of the factory employing about 5,000 men. From 1920 to 1922, he was works manager at Messrs. Gwynne's, Ltd., of Hammersmith. Mr. Riddle was responsible for the pumping plant for the Hong Kong Docks and also for the Southampton Docks, and for the pumps for the sewage works of Leeds and Salford corporations.
After leaving Messrs. Gwynne's in 1922, he joined the business of Messrs. Inniss and. Riddle, electrical and mechanical engineers, Birmingham, and remained with this firm until his death on 3rd June 1939, having been proprietor since 1924. He was at the same time Midland representative of Messrs. Pratt, Levick and Company, of Chester, and of Messrs. Edward Herbert and Company, of Manchester.
Mr. Riddle was elected a Member of the Institution in 1922.