Arthur Thomas Tipper
Arthur Thomas Tipper (1885-1943)
1944 Obituary [1]
ARTHUR THOMAS TIPPER was born in 1885 and served his apprenticeship from 1900 to 1905 in the workshops of the Wallpaper Manufacturing Company at Sunbury, where he was employed on the erection and maintenance of the firm's machinery. He remained with that firm until 1908, gaining additional practical experience in the engineering department.
After a brief period of employment with Messrs. Claudius Ash and Sons, of Walton on Thames, during 1908 and 1909, he began a connection with the Metropolitan Water Board which lasted for thirty-four years; his first position was that of fitter and turner engaged on the maintenance of the plant at the Board's Kempton Park station. In 1914 he was placed in charge of the Board's fuel-testing laboratory — a position which he retained until, shortly before his death, which occurred on the 13th September 1943, he was appointed Fuel Efficiency Officer. His laboratory work represented only a fraction of his activities, which embraced the economic purchase and use of fuel throughout the Board's area. His advice and help in the difficulties concerning combustion which occur from time to time in such a multiplicity of stations contributed greatly to economy and was much appreciated both by the management and operatives.
Mr. Tipper, whose knowledge of British coals was exceptional, and who was regarded as an authority on the subject, was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1922.