George Tilfourd (1817-1892) of Samuel Osborn and Co, Clyde Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield.
1893 Obituary [1]
GEORGE TILFOURD was born at Elie, Fifeshire, on 28th November 1817.
It was intended he should follow a sea-faring career; but after commencing he was compelled to relinquish it, owing to defective sight.
After serving his apprenticeship to the ironmongery trade, he transferred his services first to an ironfounder, and then to the works of Messrs. John Brown and Co., Furnival Street, Sheffield, where he remained for many years, during which the conical draw-spring and plunger buffer were invented and perfected, and the large trade in laminated springs began to develop, necessitating the building of the Atlas Works, Savile Street East.
The later portion of his life was spent with the firm of Messrs. Samuel Osborn and Co., Clyde Steel Works, Sheffield, the pioneers in adopting Mushet's invention of self-hardening steel. About the same time steel castings also came into use, and his energies were devoted to furthering the employment of these improvements.
His death took place at Sheffield on 26th December 1892, at the age of seventy-five.
He became an Associate of this Institution in 1884.