Frederick Albert Stepney Acres
Frederick Albert Stepney Acres (c1881-1958) of Vauxhall
1916 of the Star Engineering Co
1959 Obituary [1]
Frederick Albert Stepney Acres, who died on 24th December 1958 at the age of 77, was for many years a Member of Council of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, and became a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1947.
Mr. Acres had a long and distinguished career in the motor industry which he entered in 1902. He was educated at Christ's Hospital School, London, and Merton College, Oxford. He combined outstanding talents as a designer with considerable mathematical attainments and with a strong appreciation of practical operating requirements in all the many vehicles for which he was responsible.
After holding various positions with Iris Cars, Ltd., Humber, Ltd., Star Engineering Co. and Napiers, Mr. Acres joined Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., in 1927. He played a leading part in the initial design and subsequent development of the Bedford truck, and in 1937 was appointed Commercial Vehicle Engineer.
During the 1939-45 war he became Heavy Vehicle Engineer on the Churchill tank project. His last appointment in the Vauxhall Engineering Department was as Military Vehicle Engineer and his retirement was deferred until 1952 to enable him to complete a major design assignment.
He was Chairman of the Luton Automobile Division Centre for many years until 1950 and contributed several papers to the Institution including a classic study of brakes on which he was an authority.