Thomas Cooper (1855-1923)
Thomas Cooper of Ryburgh, engineer.
c.1855 Born in Stafford
1881 Manager Of Iron Works, lodging in Great Ryburgh
1887/8. Self propelled engine which he exhibited at the Newcastle-on Tyne engine trials and the Royal Agricultural Society's Show; constructed by Messrs Garrett of Leiston, from Mr. Cooper's designs. The engine could propel itself with a threshing machine, while it is quite competent to act as a traction engine with moderate loads.
1891 Thomas Cooper 36, agricultural engineer, engineer maker, employer, lived in Great Ryburgh, Fakenham with Elizabeth Maria Cooper 34, Mattine Veary Cooper 7, Georgia Marion Cooper 5, Reina Rita Cooper 3, Charles Veary Cooper 1[1]
1893 Patent application on "improvements in machinery for cultivating land", and another for "digging machines"
1893 Steam digger exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Society's show at Chester by Mr. Thomas Cooper; the machine was the result of considerable experience, acquired particularly during the previous two years, in which period Mr. Cooper has dug about 700 acres in Norfolk, to the great satisfaction of the owners of the land.
1894 he formed Cooper Steam Digger Co
1894 Patent application on "steam valve gear".
1895 Living in King's Lynn, he submitted a patent on "machinery for cultivating and cleaning land", and another on "driving gear for locomotive carriages".
1898 Patent application on "thrust blocks for propeller and similar shafts"
1899 With William Hugh Woodcock, civil engineer of West Norwood, patent application on "improvements in roller bearings"
1901 Thomas Cooper 46, mechanical engineer, employer, lived in King's Lynn with Elizabeth M M Cooper 44, Valene V Cooper 17, Georgia M Cooper 15, Reina R Cooper 13, Charles V Cooper 11, Eva M M Cooper 8, Alan T Cooper 6, Marjoria M Cooper 5, Gerald G Cooper 3[2]
1901 Patent application on "improvements in roller bearings for railway and similar vehicles"
1904 Patent application on "improvements in steam boilers", followed by a number of patents in successive years on a variety of subjects including land preparation but also "internal combustion engines".
1910 The first patent application he made where he gave his address as Cooper Steam Digger Co, this on "roller or ball bearings for shafts, axles and the like".
1910 Patent application on "improvements in roller bearings", giving his address as Steel Works, Kings Lynn, for the first time.
1911 Thomas Cooper 56, Engineer & Iron Founder, employer, lived in King's Lynn with Elizabeth M Cooper 54, Evelyn M Cooper 18, Marjory M Cooper 15[3]
1916 Patent on "explosive bombs"; another on "friction clutches"
1921 Further patents on roller bearings, and on rotating shafts and on clutches.
1923 Died at South Lynn[4]