Thomas Parker (inventor): Difference between revisions
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'''Thomas Parker''' (22 December 1843 – 5 December 1915) was |
'''Thomas Parker''' (22 December 1843 – 5 December 1915) was an English electrical engineer, inventor and industrialist. He patented improvements in [[lead-acid batteries]] and [[dynamo]]s, and was a pioneer of manufacturing equipment that powered electric tramways and electric lighting. He invented the smokeless fuel [[Coalite]]. |
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He was described by [[Lord Kelvin]] as "the [[Thomas Edison|Edison]] of Europe". |
He was described by [[Lord Kelvin]] as "the [[Thomas Edison|Edison]] of Europe". |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Parker was born in [[Coalbrookdale]], son of Thomas Wheatley Parker and Ann ''née'' Fletcher. His father was a [[moulder (occupation)|moulder]] at the Coalbrookdale Ironworks. The ironworks had been founded by [[Abraham Darby I]] in the early 18th century, and Parkers had worked there for several generations. Thomas attended the local [[Quaker]] school. His first work was as a moulder, with his father.<ref name=history>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/EarlyYears.htm Thomas Parker:The Early Years] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref><ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB|first=Paul|last=Freund|id=71678|title=Parker, Thomas}}</ref> |
Parker was born at Lincoln Hill <ref name=shropstar>{{cite news|title=Bright spark helped electrical revolution, Life and achievements of pioneer celebrated at special day|work=Shropshire Star|date=8 September 2015|page=16}}Report by Toby Neal, title refers to Thomas Parker day being held 10 October 2015, organized by Madeley Living History Group.</ref> in [[Coalbrookdale]], [[Shropshire]], son of Thomas Wheatley Parker and Ann ''née'' Fletcher. His father was a [[moulder (occupation)|moulder]] at the Coalbrookdale Ironworks. The ironworks had been founded by [[Abraham Darby I]] in the early 18th century, and Parkers had worked there for several generations. Thomas attended the local [[Quaker]] school. His first work was as a moulder, with his father.<ref name=history>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/EarlyYears.htm Thomas Parker:The Early Years] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref><ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB|first=Paul|last=Freund|id=71678|title=Parker, Thomas}}</ref> |
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He attended the [[1862 International Exhibition]] in London, where he was one of four representatives of the Coalbrookdale Company. He was inspired by the technology shown there, which included the [[electric telegraph]] and the [[wet battery]].<ref name=timelines/><ref name=history/> |
He attended the [[1862 International Exhibition]] in London, where he was one of four representatives of the Coalbrookdale Company. He was inspired by the technology shown there, which included the [[electric telegraph]] and the [[wet battery]].<ref name=timelines/><ref name=history/> |
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Later in that year he moved to [[Birmingham]], to get more experience as a moulder; during this time he attended lectures of the nonconformist preacher [[George Dawson (preacher)|George Dawson]]. He later moved to [[the Potteries]], where in 1866 he married Jane Gibbons, daughter of engine-driver Lewis Gibbons. They moved to Manchester where he attended chemistry lectures of [[Henry Enfield Roscoe]] and others.<ref name=history/><ref name=odnb/> |
Later in that year he moved to [[Birmingham]], to get more experience as a moulder; during this time he attended lectures of the nonconformist preacher [[George Dawson (preacher)|George Dawson]]. He later moved to [[the Potteries]], where in 1866 he married Jane Gibbons, daughter of engine-driver Lewis Gibbons. They moved to [[Manchester]] where he attended chemistry lectures of [[Henry Enfield Roscoe]] and others.<ref name=history/><ref name=odnb/> |
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In December 1867 they moved to Coalbrookdale; Parker, initially working as a foreman, was soon offered the post of chemist in the [[electroplating]] department.<ref name=history/> |
In December 1867 they moved to Coalbrookdale; Parker, initially working as a foreman, was soon offered the post of chemist in the [[electroplating]] department.<ref name=history/> |
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Around this time there was national concern about the detrimental effect of coal smoke on cities, publicized by the [[Kyrle Society]]. The Coalbrookdale Company produced the "Kyrle Grate", invented by Parker; it was an open grate in which [[anthracite coal]] could be burnt. It was awarded a silver medal at the Smoke Abatement Exhibition in 1881.<ref name=history/><ref name=odnb/> |
Around this time there was national concern about the detrimental effect of coal smoke on cities, publicized by the [[Kyrle Society]]. The Coalbrookdale Company produced the "Kyrle Grate", invented by Parker; it was an open grate in which [[anthracite coal]] could be burnt. It was awarded a silver medal at the Smoke Abatement Exhibition in 1881.<ref name=history/><ref name=odnb/> |
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Parker worked on improvements on the [[lead-acid battery]] invented by [[Gaston Planté]]. He took out a patent in 1882, which coincided with Gaston Planté's own patent for the same improvement; two separate patents were granted. In June 1882 Parker and Paul Bedford Elwell took out patents for improvements in dynamos and electric lighting |
Parker worked on improvements on the [[lead-acid battery]] invented by [[Gaston Planté]]. He took out a patent in 1882, which coincided with Gaston Planté's own patent for the same improvement; two separate patents were granted. In June 1882 Parker and Paul Bedford Elwell took out patents for improvements in dynamos and electric lighting.<ref name=history/><ref name=odnb/> |
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==The Elwell-Parker Company== |
==The Elwell-Parker Company== |
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[[File:Thomas Parker Electric car.jpg|thumb|280px|One of Parker's electric cars, outside his home in [[Tettenhall]], near Wolverhampton. Parker is in the middle.<ref name=history2/>]] |
[[File:Thomas Parker Electric car.jpg|thumb|280px|One of Parker's electric cars, outside his home in [[Tettenhall]], near Wolverhampton. Parker is in the middle.<ref name=history2/>]] |
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In Wolverhampton, Elwell and Parker began to manufacture accumulators (lead-acid batteries). From 1883 they manufactured dynamos. The business began to expand: there was soon a demand for dynamos, from the Manchester Edison Company and from Trafalgar Colliery in the [[Forest of Dean]], for electric lighting in the mine. (This is thought to be the first time electric lighting was used underground.) Elwell-Parker dynamos supplied lighting in industrial works, and equipment was supplied for a tramway in [[Blackpool tramway|Blackpool]] in 1885, the first electric tramway in the country. A prototype battery-powered tram was tested on the tramway in [[Birmingham]]. Several prototype [[electric car]]s were built. Between 1884 and 1887, further patents were taken out by Parker and Elwell for electrical equipment.<ref name=odnb/><ref name=history2/><ref>[http://www.thetrams.co.uk/blackpool/ Blackpool Tramway] TheTrams.co.uk, accessed 8 August 2015.</ref> |
In Wolverhampton, Elwell and Parker began to manufacture accumulators (lead-acid batteries). From 1883 they manufactured dynamos. The business began to expand: there was soon a demand for dynamos, from the Manchester Edison Company and from Trafalgar Colliery in the [[Forest of Dean]], for electric lighting in the mine. (This is thought to be the first time electric lighting was used underground.) Elwell-Parker dynamos supplied lighting in industrial works, and equipment was supplied for a tramway in [[Blackpool tramway|Blackpool]] in 1885, the first electric tramway in the country. A prototype battery-powered tram was tested on the tramway in [[Birmingham]]. Several prototype [[electric car]]s were built. Between 1884 and 1887, further patents were taken out by Parker and Elwell for electrical equipment.<ref name=odnb/><ref name=history2/><ref>[http://www.thetrams.co.uk/blackpool/ Blackpool Tramway] TheTrams.co.uk, accessed 8 August 2015.</ref> In 1887 he developed a process to extract phosphorus and chlorate of soda by [[electrolysis]].<ref name=shropstar></ref> |
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In the [[United Kingdom general election, 1892|general election of July 1892]] Parker stood as a Liberal Party candidate for [[Kingswinford]], where he was defeated by the Conservative candidate. In 1893 he became a [[Justice of the Peace]] in Wolverhampton.<ref>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/Election.htm Thomas Parker: Politics and the 1892 General Election] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/1890s.htm Thomas Parker: The 1890s] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref> |
In the [[United Kingdom general election, 1892|general election of July 1892]] Parker stood as a [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] candidate for [[Kingswinford]], where he was defeated by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate. In 1893 he became a [[Justice of the Peace]] in Wolverhampton.<ref>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/Election.htm Thomas Parker: Politics and the 1892 General Election] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/1890s.htm Thomas Parker: The 1890s] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref> |
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In 1889 the Electric Construction Corporation (E. |
In 1889 the Electric Construction Corporation (E.C.C.), was founded by a syndicate to manufacture electrical equipment, and it purchased the Elwell-Parker company and others making similar equipment. A new factory was built in [[Bushbury]], Wolverhampton. Parker failed to become a company director, but was appointed Works Manager. In 1893 an American branch of Elwell-Parker was founded in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]].<ref name=timelines/><ref name=history2/><ref name=ecc>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/ECC.htm Thomas Parker: The Electric Construction Corporation] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref> |
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In 1893 the company was in difficulty and was reformed as the Electric Construction Company. In 1894 Parker resigned from the company and set up Thomas Parker Ltd. in Wolverhampton, making electrical equipment. (The company was eventually wound up in 1909.)<ref name=ecc/><ref name=parkerltd>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/TPLimited.htm Thomas Parker: Thomas Parker Ltd] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref> |
In 1893 the company was in difficulty and was reformed as the Electric Construction Company. In 1894 Parker resigned from the company and set up Thomas Parker Ltd. in Wolverhampton, making electrical equipment. (The company was eventually wound up in 1909.)<ref name=ecc/><ref name=parkerltd>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/TPLimited.htm Thomas Parker: Thomas Parker Ltd] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref> In 1897 he formed the Midland Electric Corporation, the first company in the world to distribute electricity over a wide area.<ref name=shropstar></ref> |
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==In London== |
==In London== |
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==Retirement== |
==Retirement== |
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In 1908 he retired to [[Ironbridge]], near Coalbrookdale. He had a laboratory and workshop at his home, and in Coalbrookdale he gave a series of lectures on science. In 1910 he bought an ironworks on the local [[Madeley Court]] estate, and he ran this company, Court Works Ltd, with his son Charles.<ref name=return/> |
In 1908 he retired to [[Ironbridge]], near Coalbrookdale, where he purchased Severn House (in 2015 now The Best Western Valley Hotel)<ref name=shropstar></ref>. He had a laboratory and workshop at his home, and in Coalbrookdale he gave a series of lectures on science. In 1910 he bought an ironworks on the local [[Madeley Court]] estate, and he ran this company, Court Works Ltd, with his son Charles.<ref name=return/> |
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He died at home in Ironbridge in 1915, and was buried nearby in [[Madeley, Shropshire|Madeley]].<ref name=return>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/Return.htm Thomas Parker:Return to Coalbrookdale] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref> |
He died, aged 71, of a [[brain tumour]]<ref name=shropstar></ref> at home in Ironbridge in 1915, and was buried nearby in [[Madeley, Shropshire|Madeley]].<ref name=return>[http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/Parker/Return.htm Thomas Parker:Return to Coalbrookdale] Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.</ref> |
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He had twelve children, of which nine survived to maturity. His son Charles Henry Parker ran the company that produced Coalite; his son Thomas Hugh Parker was an inventor, building prototype motor cars.<ref name=odnb/> |
He had twelve children, of which nine survived to maturity. His son Charles Henry Parker ran the company that produced Coalite; his son Thomas Hugh Parker was an inventor, building prototype motor cars.<ref name=odnb/> |
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Revision as of 20:42, 8 September 2015
Thomas Parker (22 December 1843 – 5 December 1915) was an English electrical engineer, inventor and industrialist. He patented improvements in lead-acid batteries and dynamos, and was a pioneer of manufacturing equipment that powered electric tramways and electric lighting. He invented the smokeless fuel Coalite.
He was described by Lord Kelvin as "the Edison of Europe". [1]
Early life
Parker was born at Lincoln Hill [2] in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, son of Thomas Wheatley Parker and Ann née Fletcher. His father was a moulder at the Coalbrookdale Ironworks. The ironworks had been founded by Abraham Darby I in the early 18th century, and Parkers had worked there for several generations. Thomas attended the local Quaker school. His first work was as a moulder, with his father.[3][4]
He attended the 1862 International Exhibition in London, where he was one of four representatives of the Coalbrookdale Company. He was inspired by the technology shown there, which included the electric telegraph and the wet battery.[1][3]
Later in that year he moved to Birmingham, to get more experience as a moulder; during this time he attended lectures of the nonconformist preacher George Dawson. He later moved to the Potteries, where in 1866 he married Jane Gibbons, daughter of engine-driver Lewis Gibbons. They moved to Manchester where he attended chemistry lectures of Henry Enfield Roscoe and others.[3][4]
In December 1867 they moved to Coalbrookdale; Parker, initially working as a foreman, was soon offered the post of chemist in the electroplating department.[3]
Early inventions
In 1876 he and Philip Weston, a machinist at Coalbrookdale, received a patent for an improved steam pump. This was Parker's first major invention. "Parker and Weston's Patent Pump", manufactured only by the Coalbrookdale Company, was awarded a medal at the International Inventions Exhibition of 1885.[3]
In the electroplating department, he replaced battery cells, which powered the process, with a large dynamo which he had designed and built; it was probably the first time a dynamo was used for this purpose.[3]
Around this time there was national concern about the detrimental effect of coal smoke on cities, publicized by the Kyrle Society. The Coalbrookdale Company produced the "Kyrle Grate", invented by Parker; it was an open grate in which anthracite coal could be burnt. It was awarded a silver medal at the Smoke Abatement Exhibition in 1881.[3][4]
Parker worked on improvements on the lead-acid battery invented by Gaston Planté. He took out a patent in 1882, which coincided with Gaston Planté's own patent for the same improvement; two separate patents were granted. In June 1882 Parker and Paul Bedford Elwell took out patents for improvements in dynamos and electric lighting.[3][4]
The Elwell-Parker Company
In October 1882 Parker and his family moved to Wolverhampton to set up in business with Paul Bedford Elwell (1853–1899). (Elwell's family had a factory there, that made nails and horseshoes.)[5]
In Wolverhampton, Elwell and Parker began to manufacture accumulators (lead-acid batteries). From 1883 they manufactured dynamos. The business began to expand: there was soon a demand for dynamos, from the Manchester Edison Company and from Trafalgar Colliery in the Forest of Dean, for electric lighting in the mine. (This is thought to be the first time electric lighting was used underground.) Elwell-Parker dynamos supplied lighting in industrial works, and equipment was supplied for a tramway in Blackpool in 1885, the first electric tramway in the country. A prototype battery-powered tram was tested on the tramway in Birmingham. Several prototype electric cars were built. Between 1884 and 1887, further patents were taken out by Parker and Elwell for electrical equipment.[4][5][6] In 1887 he developed a process to extract phosphorus and chlorate of soda by electrolysis.[2]
In the general election of July 1892 Parker stood as a Liberal Party candidate for Kingswinford, where he was defeated by the Conservative candidate. In 1893 he became a Justice of the Peace in Wolverhampton.[7][8]
In 1889 the Electric Construction Corporation (E.C.C.), was founded by a syndicate to manufacture electrical equipment, and it purchased the Elwell-Parker company and others making similar equipment. A new factory was built in Bushbury, Wolverhampton. Parker failed to become a company director, but was appointed Works Manager. In 1893 an American branch of Elwell-Parker was founded in Cleveland, Ohio.[1][5][9]
In 1893 the company was in difficulty and was reformed as the Electric Construction Company. In 1894 Parker resigned from the company and set up Thomas Parker Ltd. in Wolverhampton, making electrical equipment. (The company was eventually wound up in 1909.)[9][10] In 1897 he formed the Midland Electric Corporation, the first company in the world to distribute electricity over a wide area.[2]
In London
In 1899 Parker resigned as managing director of Thomas Parker Ltd. He moved to London, where he was consulting engineer to the Metropolitan Railway company, involved in the electrification of the underground railway. The Neasden Power Station was opened in 1904 as part of the project. Parker stayed in London until retirement in 1908.[10][12]
In 1904 he invented a new smokeless fuel, marketed as Coalite. In 1936 Parker was posthumously awarded a gold medal by the Smoke Abatement Society.[11]
Retirement
In 1908 he retired to Ironbridge, near Coalbrookdale, where he purchased Severn House (in 2015 now The Best Western Valley Hotel)[2]. He had a laboratory and workshop at his home, and in Coalbrookdale he gave a series of lectures on science. In 1910 he bought an ironworks on the local Madeley Court estate, and he ran this company, Court Works Ltd, with his son Charles.[13]
He died, aged 71, of a brain tumour[2] at home in Ironbridge in 1915, and was buried nearby in Madeley.[13]
He had twelve children, of which nine survived to maturity. His son Charles Henry Parker ran the company that produced Coalite; his son Thomas Hugh Parker was an inventor, building prototype motor cars.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Thomas Parker Engineering Timelines, acessed 29 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Bright spark helped electrical revolution, Life and achievements of pioneer celebrated at special day". Shropshire Star. 8 September 2015. p. 16.Report by Toby Neal, title refers to Thomas Parker day being held 10 October 2015, organized by Madeley Living History Group.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Thomas Parker:The Early Years Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Freund, Paul. "Parker, Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/71678. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b c d Thomas Parker:Elwell-Parker Ltd Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.
- ^ Blackpool Tramway TheTrams.co.uk, accessed 8 August 2015.
- ^ Thomas Parker: Politics and the 1892 General Election Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.
- ^ Thomas Parker: The 1890s Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.
- ^ a b Thomas Parker: The Electric Construction Corporation Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.
- ^ a b Thomas Parker: Thomas Parker Ltd Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.
- ^ a b c Thomas Parker: Coalite, a School and a Plaque Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.
- ^ Thomas Parker: The Metropolitan Railway Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.
- ^ a b Thomas Parker:Return to Coalbrookdale Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, accessed 29 July 2015.
External links
Elwell-Parker Website of the present-day Elwell-Parker company founded in America in 1893