James Cooper Moncrieff
James Cooper Moncrieff (August 1884 - c1975) of Tower Bank Promenade, Leven.
Moncrieff Electricians of Suttie Street, Methil
1884 Born.
1921 Mr Moncrieff designed the 'Magnet Electric Wizard' which washed and wrung clothes, made ice cream, minced and made sausages and cleaned knives. Its success avoided the men, who were building lifeboats, at his boat building yard being laid off.
1922 The first machines were produced under the firm's own 'Thistle' brand.
1924 Machine was exhibited at the Wembley Exhibition.
1925 Bought by GEC and re-named the machine 'The Magnet' and was one of the first all-British manufactured washing machines.
c1931 Retired at the age of 47.
c1973 One of the few remaining machines was offered to the Royal Scottish Museum in Chambers Street, Edinburgh.
c1975 Mr Moncrieff died at the age of 91.
Information provided via family archives