Oscar Rendell
Oscar Rendell (c1886-1960) director of H. W. Kearns and Co
1960 Obituary [1]
Oscar Rendell died on 5th March in his 75th year after being in the service of H. W. Kearns and Co. Ltd for over 50 years.
Mr Rendell was educated at the Accrington and, subsequently, Manchester Grammar Schools. He received his technical education at the Manchester College of Science and Technology and at the same time he served an apprenticeship with William Muir and Company. In 1906 he went to the United States of America and was employed by various firms, including Pratt and Whitney.
In 1908 he began his long association with H. W. Kearns and Co. Ltd as a foreman in their Broadheath works. He was appointed Works Manager in 1931 and by 1938 he had become Works Director, a position he held until his death.
During the 1939-45 war he was Manager of the Emergency Machine Tool Armament Corps, a unit which was created at the request of the Government to advise and assist in the use of machine tools, which were then being installed in various new factories throughout the country. In 1945 he was a member of the team which investigated the German machine tool industry.
Mr Rendell was well known in the machine tool industry. He was regarded with affection and great respect by members of the industry and of the Institution alike. He became a Member of the Institution in 1949 and subsequently was associated with the North Western Branch of the Industrial Administration and Engineering Production Group, of which he was Chairman from 1950 until 1954. He was elected Chairman of this Group at headquarters in 1952. He was a Past-President of the Manchester Association of Engineers and was also a Constantine Medallist of the Association.