Thomas John Smith
Thomas John Smith (1872-1941)
1943 Obituary [1]
THOMAS JOHN SMITH was born in 1872, and underwent a practical course from 1884 to 1891 at the works of his father, Thomas Smith, engineer and iron-founder, of Hanley. During that period he attended classes in engineering at the Whitworth engineering laboratories of Owens College, Manchester. On the completion of his apprenticeship he was made manager of the works and was responsible for numerous engineering contracts successfully fulfilled to his own designs. He was particularly concerned with several types of equipment used in the manufacture of ceramics and adopted by both English and American pottery firms.
Four years later Mr. Smith became a partner in the firm which thenceforward carried on business under the title of Messrs. Thomas Smith and Sons. In 1913 Mr. Smith migrated to the U.S.A. and resided there until his death which occurred, while living in retirement, at St. Petersburg, Florida, on 5th August 1941. For many years he was engaged at Akron, Ohio, on the design of rubber manufacturing equipment, but for the last twelve years of his career he was a mechanical engineer in the employment of the General Tire and Rubber Company.
Mr. Smith was an Associate Member of the Institution for over forty years, having been elected in 1898.