Rankin Kennedy

Rankin Kennedy (c1854-1917), consulting engineer (electric) and inventor

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Obituary

The death took place on the Isle of Bute on April 17th, in his sixty-fourth year, of Mr. Rankin Kennedy, consulting engineer and inventor, who, at one time, occupied a prominent position as electrical plant manufacturer in Glasgow, and of late years wrote a number of semi-popular works on electrical engineering and a related subjects. Prior to engaging in technical literary work and retiring to Rothesay, Mr. Kennedy had been on the electrical staff of Kelvin and James White, Limited - now Kelvin, Bottomley and Baird, Limited - but his best work had been achieved earlier in connection with the introduction of electricity for lighting and power purposes. In 1888 he had control of the Woodside Electric Works, Kelvinbridge, Glasgow, a concern of considerable importance, established five years previously, but subsequently demolished to make way for the Kelvin Bridge Station of the Caledonian Railway. The works were equipped with good facilities for the manufacture of dynamos, motors, lamps, &c., for both land and ship lighting. In 1883 Mr. Kennedy's name was closely associated with the introduction of electric distribution by means of alternating currents and trans formers. Complete installations for ships were turned out in considerable numbers from the works, in the establishment and conduct of which Mr. Kennedy had associated with him Messrs. R. and J . Dick. Among the machines he patented, the most notable was, perhaps, his compound wound self regulating slow-speed dynamo.

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