Henry Oswald (1902-1959) of British Brown-Boveri
1959 Obituary [1]
THE electrical industry has lost a warm-hearted and likeable personality with the death on January 8, at his home in Surbiton, of Mr. Henry Oswald, managing director of British Brown-Boveri, Ltd.
Henry Oswald was born on September 23, 1902 in Aadorf, Switzerland. After a three-year course at the technical college, Winterthur, he undertook two years of practical training at the Baden works of Brown Boveri and Co., Ltd. Having matriculated in 1923 Mr. Oswald then entered the Federal Institute of Technology (E.T.H.) at Zurich where he obtained an engineering degree after a four-year course.
In 1928 he joined British Brown-Boveri, Ltd., as a contracts engineer. After four years in that position he left to take up the new appointment of representative and resident engineer, in India, of the Swiss parent company. His main task in India was to assist in building up the interests of his firm as steam and electrical power plant engineers and contractors to industry and public utility undertakings. One of the enterprises for which he was responsible was the design and construction of the hydroelectric power station of the Pallivasal scheme in Travancore.
In 1937 Mr. Oswald was appointed general manager of British Brown-Boveri, Ltd. in London and shortly after he was given a seat on the board of the company. Ten years later he succeeded Mr. A. C. Eborall as managing director. Whilst he always retained his interest in hydro-electric power his activities continued to broaden and, for example, he was closely concerned with improvements in the application of electricity to the controlled high-temperature firing of pottery and bone-china; his company was responsible for the design and installation of continuous tunnel kilns in Great Britain.
Mr. Oswald worked hard in the interests of the Swiss community in Britain. He served on the committee of the Swiss Economic Council for many years and was elected president of that body in 1952.