Francis John Bostock
Francis John Bostock (1881/2-1943), Governing Director of Bostock and Bramley
1943/44 Obituary [1]
Francis John Bostock was born in 1881.
He commenced his engineering career with Ashwell and Nesbit, of Leicester, and following experience as Draughtsman, Machine Shop Superintendent, etc., joined the Humber Company as Chief Car Inspector and Manager of Repair Department.
In 1906 he became Assistant Manager to Ariel Motors, leaving them in 1911 to become Manager of David Brown and Sons, Ltd.
From 1921 onwards he held the position of Governing Director of Bostock and Bramley, Ltd., transmission engineers.
He died on 10th November, 1943, at the age of 62. He was elected an Associate Member in 1912 and transferred to Member in 1919.
1944 Obituary [2]
FRANCIS JOHN BOSTOCK was born in 1882 and was educated at the Bablake Schools, Coventry. He passed with honours the subject of mathematics and engineering practice, and he served his apprenticeship; from 1898 to 1901 with Messrs. Ashwell and Nesbit and Company, of Leicester, and Messrs. Willans and Robinson and Company, Ltd., Rugby. In 1903 he joined the staff of the Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Company, Ltd., Birmingham, as assistant machine shop superintendent, and it was here that he first made his name as a technical specialist on gears and gearing, as he designed a machine for the production of all types of bevel gearing, applying the use of a taper hob as a means of production.
During the years 1907-1910 he was associated with Messrs. Ariel Motors, Ltd., Birmingham, and when these works were taken over by Messrs. Lorraine Dietrich, Ltd., of Paris and Luneville, France, he transferred to the Luneville Works to supervise the production of a sleeve valve engine of his own design.
In 1911 he commenced his association with Messrs. David Brown and Sons, Ltd., Huddersfield, initially as assistant works manager, and later as works manager of the firm's Lockwood Works. Whilst with Messrs. David Brown his name was prominently associated with gearing in its many aspects, especially with worm and double-helical gearing, as he was responsible for the development of the worm gear known as the F. J. shape gear.
In 1921 he went into business on his own account as Messrs. Bostock and Bramley, Ltd., Netherton, Huddersfield, this firm being later associated with Messrs. Joshua Buckton and Company, Ltd., Leeds, and Messrs. Craven Brothers, Ltd., Reddish, near Stockport. The works were later removed to Stalybridge, Lancs, and Mr. Bostock was governing director of the firm up to the time of his death, which occurred on 10th November 1943.
Mr. Bostock had an international reputation in all matters related to gears and gearing, and he developed and designed gear productions both as regards the mathematical shapes and the production machines for developing them. He will be specially remembered as the inventor of the F. J. share of worm gearing and the enveloping shapes of tooth formation both for worm and spur gearing.