Arthur Henry Shaw
Arthur Henry Shaw (c1867-1941), Borough Electrical Engineer at Ilford
1941 Obituary [1]
ARTHUR HENRY SHAW died on the 31st January, 1941, at the age of 74, at Bournemouth, where he had been living in retirement since March, 1932, after a very active life in many parts of the world.
For over 36 years he was Borough Electrical Engineer at Ilford, having been appointed to that position in January, 1901, on relinquishing the position of Engineer and Manager of the Harrow Electric Light and Power Co., which he had held from 1898 to 1901.
Under his guidance the Ilford undertaking made great strides, always keeping abreast of a very fast-growing town, and he was responsible for the numerous plant extensions necessitated by the ever-increasing demand. Always interested in tariff problems, he was one of the original "Point-Fives" and introduced a successful two-part domestic tariff in January, 1914.
With the passing of the Electricity (Supply) Acts of 1919 and 1926, fresh powers were conferred upon undertakers, of which he immediately took advantage and the present extensive sales, hire and hire-purchase business of the Ilford undertaking came into being.
He commenced his career at the Thomson-Houston Works at Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1890, joined the Otis Elevator Co. in 1895, and was largely responsible through the Thomson-Houston Co. for establishing the Kingston (Jamaica) electricity undertaking. He also served a similar mission in Demarara, British Guiana. During the 1914-1918 war he was an active member of the Metropolitan Munitions Committee.
He was elected an Associate of The Institution in 1898, an Associate Member in 1899, and a Member in 1902. In 1931-32 he served as President of the Associated Municipal Electrical Engineers.