James Spencer Hollings
James Spencer Hollings (1872-1956) of the Brymbo Steel Co
1956 Obituary [1]
IT is with regret that we record the death of James Spencer Hollings, which occurred on June 21st.
Mr. Hollings, who was born in 1872, was educated at Sedbergh and trained as a mining engineer. However, he was not destined to follow this profession, for in 1893 he transferred to the steel industry, where he worked under J. H. Darby, of the Brymbo Steel Company, Ltd. Mr. Hollings was associated with the company for more than thirty years and occupied the position of managing director from 1914 onwards. These years saw many developments in the iron and steel industry, and he travelled extensively to study new techniques. His travels abroad enabled him to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the industry, particularly in Germany and the United States of America.
After Baldwins, Ltd. acquired the Brymbo Steel Company, Ltd., Mr. Hollings served under Sir John Roper Wright, who was associated with Sir William Siemens when the acid open-hearth method of making steel was developed.
Later on, Mr. Hollings was appointed managing director and vice-chairman of Guest, Keen, Baldwin's Iron and Steel Company, Ltd. These positions he held until he retired in 1945, but he continued to serve the company as a director after that date. Mr. Hollings was an expert on blast-furnace and coke oven practice and also in the design and planning of integrated plant, and was concerned in the design of the works of the South African Iron and Steel Industrial Corporation, Ltd., and also in the planning of the East Moors Works of his own company.
Besides serving on the executive committee of the British Iron and Steel Federation and the council of the British Iron. and Steel Research Association, Mr. Hollings was for several years chairman of the National Association of Hematite Pig Iron Manufacturers and also of the Basic Pig Iron Producers Association. He was elected vice-president of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1938, thirty-five years after becoming a member, and was made an honorary vice-president in 1946, being awarded the Bessemer Gold Medal in the same year.