John Henry Thomas
John Henry Thomas (c1867-1937)
1937 Obituary [1]
JOHN HENRY THOMAS was managing director of Messrs. Thomas and Clement, Ltd., ironfounders, of Llanelly, and he also held for many years the position of outside manager of the firm. He was born in Llanelly and served a five years' apprenticeship, terminating in 1887, with Messrs. Thomas and Clement.
After gaining additional experience in Messrs. Crompton's works at Chelmsford, and at the Lincoln works of Messrs. Ruston, Proctor and Company, Ltd., he returned to Messrs. Thomas and Clement as a designer and draughtsman, in 1892. He was promoted to be assistant manager in 1906, and was made managing director in 1908. His most important work was the design and manufacture of steel smelting furnaces and reheating furnaces, also the mechanical equipment of tinplate mills.
Mr. Thomas was keenly interested in the technical education of engineers. He initiated several classes in engineering subjects at the Higher Grade School, Llanelly (afterwards transferred to the Intermediate and Technical School), and he himself gave instruction there from 1891 to 1917. In 1932 he retired from active connection with Messrs. Thomas and Clement, but continued as a director until his death, which occurred in South Africa on 1st September 1937, at the age of 70.
He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1922.