George Turton
George Turton (c1849-1907)
Engineer and inventor of 4 Westminster Chambers, London. [1]
1875 Invented and patented wrought iron railway buffers. [2] which obtained a wide reputation but was found to be difficult to repair. Manufactured by Ibbotson Brothers and Co.
1882 George Turton established business in Sheffield, (presumably) the Patent Buffer, Steel and File Works
1888 Turton's Improved Railway Buffer patent. (George Turton of the Patent Buffer, Steel and File Works at Sheffield) [3]
1891 Advert. As George Turton. [4]
1891 William Platts joined the firm.
The business became George Turton, Platts and Co
1907 Obituary.[5]
The death occurred yesterday a Sheffield manufacturer of considerable inventive capacity in the person of Mr. George Turton, founder of the firm of Messrs. George Turton, Platts, and Company, manufacturers of buffers, coil springs, steel file hammers, etc., Savile Street, and Beechwood Road.
It was he who invented the well-known Turton buffer, used extensively on the rolling stock of many British and foreign railway companies. This earned for him honours at several exhibitions, including a gold modal at Melbourne and silver medal at Earl’s Court.
His other inventions included a patent back wheel cycling brake, which, with some improvements, turned out successful.
Mr. Turton spent no fewer than 25 years of his earlier life as traveller for Messrs. Ibbotson Bros, and Company, Limited, of the Globe Steel Works, Alma Street.
Ill-health of late years has prevented him from taking an active interest in his firm's business, which is now carried on by Mr. Platts.
Though not identified with the civic life of the city, Mr. Turton in politics was Conservative, who for many years gave staunch support, in an unassuming way, to Mr. Samuel Roberts, M.P., in whose division he resided. He was a member of St. Barnabas’ Church. Weakness of the heart during the last year or two has given him considerable trouble, and compelled him to take to_ his bed fortnight ago. His death yesterday at his residence, 20, Montgomery Road, Nether Edge, was not altogether unexpected. Mr. Turton has resided on Montgomery Road for 22 years, and will be missed by a wide circle of friends in that district.
He leaves a widow and a grown-up family of eight. Mr. Turton was in his 59th year.
1907 Obituary [6]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Engineering 1880, vol 30, p 568.
- ↑ The Engineer 1875/04/30
- ↑ The Engineer 1888/01/20 p43
- ↑ 1891 Post Office London Trades Directory
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Tuesday 14 May 1907
- ↑ Engineering 1907 Jan-Jun: Index: General Index