James Whittaker
James Whittaker (1822-1902), Engineer of Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire.
He worked with Whitworths Tool Works, De Bergue and Co and Hulse and Co.
1864 Whittaker's Engines, page 170 of The Engineer 1864/03/18.
1902 Died at age 80[1]
Mr. JAMES WHITTAKER, at one time a very prominent figure in the engineering world, and the inventor of various appliances for the saving of manual labour, died on Thursday May 23rd at the house of his son-in-law, Mr. W. Whitfield, at Oswestry, in Shropshire. Mr. Whittaker was a born engineer. After serving his apprenticeship in Whitworth's Tool Works, he spent a few years under Messrs. Colliers, of Salford. Subsequently he returned to the Whitworth firm and while there acquired fame in the engineering world by the suggestion and introduction of the slide rest for lathes. The authorities of the company also sought his advice on the introduction of the Whitworth gun, and the first of these was tested under his supervision. After leaving Whitworth's he was for two years manager for Mr Joseph Hulse, and then he spent a short time in the De Bergue's firm of bridge builders. While employed as manager of a Cumberland firm of screw and bolt makers, he completed a machine for making set screws, the heads of which were not liable to break. This he effected by the use of crinoline wire, and the appliance, with the addition of various improvements, is in use at the present day in Birmingham and elsewhere. Later on he accepted a very lucrative appointment in the Seacombe Forge Works, where shafting and rudders were produced for the use of the English Navy. Subsequently Mr. Whittaker was appointed managing director under the Oswestry Coal and Brick Works Company, and on resigning his position there he retired to Southport, where he lived for seventeen years.