Institute of British Foundrymen
c.1902 A number of foundrymen, anxious to take definite steps to apply science to the work of the foundry and who wished to increase their own knowledge, aired their views in the Foundry Trade Journal.
1904 Frederick W. Finch invited a number of foundrymen to attend a meeting in Birmingham, which was attended by six people who formed themselves into the British Foundrymen’s Association with Robert Buchanan as President and F W Finch as Secretary and Treasurer. The remainder of those present became the Council.
Just 4 months later the first Annual Convention was held in Manchester and was attended by 50 of its 89 members. By the end of the year there were 100 members.
“The primary object was ... the education of the man actually at work in the foundry, such as workmen, foremen and managers. This was to be followed by education of those outside the shops who more or less directly or indirectly concerned with it, such as draughtsmen, patternmakers, proprietors and works managers, etc....." Furthermore, the Association was not connected with the Trades Unions and was not to be used in any sort of propaganda for business houses....
As the Association grew in size and influence members began to express a desire for incorporation by Royal Charter.
1921 the Royal Charter was granted. Presumably at this point the association became the Institute of British Foundrymen
2000 The name was changed from the Institute of British Foundrymen to the Institute of Cast Metals Engineers.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ICME [1]