William Jackson (1849-1915)
William Jackson (1849-1915)
Invented the single-action rolling machine for production of tea [1]
1915 Obituary [2]
WILLIAM JACKSON was born at Keith Hall, Aberdeenshire, on 29th June 1849.
Having developed an early liking for engineering, he was apprenticed to Messrs. George Murray and Co., Banff, and later to Messrs. Hall, Russell and Co., of Aberdeen.
On the completion of his apprenticeship he went to Calcutta, and, later, to Assam, where he joined his brother, who was manager of the Scottish Assam Tea Co. Soon after, he became assistant to his brother, and subsequently had charge of the tea-house and the manufacture of tea at the central factory of the company's estate.
At that time – 1870 — the tea-leaf had to be rolled by hand, and there was no tea-drying machine in existence in the British Colonies. He saw at once the necessity for improvement, and before the lapse of many months he had invented a tea-rolling machine, which set at liberty the coolies for other work.
He then devoted his whole time and energy to inventing and improving machinery used in the manipulation of tea, and it is greatly due to his efforts that Assam and Ceylon were able to compete so successfully with China in the economical production of tea. His tea-driers are well known throughout the East, and are in use on most of the great tea estates.
After his retirement from active life in the East in 1886, he continued his engineering work in Aberdeen, and largely added to the noteworthy record of inventions with which his name is connected. His workshop at his residence was fitted up with all the latest engineering appliances, and many years ago he utilized electricity for lighting and power purposes long before it had reached its present development.
His death took place after a severe illness at his residence in Aberdeen, on 15th June 1915, at almost the age of sixty-six.
He was elected a Member of this Institution in 1889.
1915 Obituary [3]
'DEATH OF MR W. JACKSON, THORNGROVE. WELL-KNOWN ABERDEEN ENGINEER. NOTABLE FIGURE IN TEA INDUSTRY. Mr William Jackson, Thorngrove, Great Western Road, Aberdeen, died this morning at the age of 66 years.
'Mr Jackson was a well-known engineer and inventor, who had perfected many of the machines in use in connection with the tea industry. His establishment at Thorngrove was thoroughly up-to-date, fitted with all modern requirements, and regarded by engineers as a model of its kind.
'Mr Jackson was born in 1849 at the farm of Davo, Keith-hall. From his earliest years he showed an exceptionally keen interest in every form of mechanical appliance, and his inventive abilities were to make his name a house-hold word in all centres of the tea industry, which he might almost be said to have revolutionised.
'Mr Jackson's first practical acquaintance with engineering was acquired, as a lad, in the iron foundry of Messrs George Murray and Co., Banff. Through the services of neighbours, who recognised the boy's ability and took an interest in his advancement, he was shortly afterwards given an apprenticeship with Messrs Hall, Russell, and Co., shipbuilders, Aberdeen. During his five years of service he made great strides in the mastery of the profession, showing acquirements of a singularly high order.
In the East Indies. Having completed his apprenticeship, Mr Jackson went out to the East Indies, first to Calcutta and then to Assam, where he joined his brother Mr John Jackson, who, at the time, was manager of the Scottish Assam Tea Company. Mr William Lawrie, afterwards manager of the Jhanzie Association, but at the time assistant to John Jackson, resigned his appointment to take the management of the Loajan estate, and, in his place, the newcomer was made his brother's assistant. He was transferred to the plantation of Helleaka, which the manager of the company had determined to make a central factory for the whole of the company's gardens. Mr Jackson had charge of the teahouse and the manufacture of the tea. The duties were arduous, all the leaf from the estates being brought to the one centre to be rolled, and Mr Jackson utilised his genius for invention in a direction that ensured the curtailment of the laborious operations previously necessary. The coolies had had to roll the leaf by hand on tables, but the young assistant manager patented a machine which performed this operation. It was successful, and even his earliest rollers, which, unlike those formerly used, completed the manipulation of the leaf, became widely known.
'His subsequent inventions included the Excelsior roller, the Victoria, Venetian, and Britannia drying machines, and a great number of other devices of the highest class, all calculated to lessen the difficulties of tea planters. Mr Jackson's machinery has a world-wide reputation, being everywhere in use.
'He had long been resident in Aberdeen, after his return from abroad; but, as mentioned, he continued to exercise his powers of mechanical invention in numberless directions, testing the various appliances at his model establishment at Thorngrove. The manufacturers of his machines are Messrs Marshall, Sons, and Co., Gainsborough.
'Liberal and public-spirited, this distinguished citizen took an interest in local movements. On the occasion of the visit of Sir Robert Baden Powell to the city in connection with the Boy Scout organisation, Mr Jackson contributed £500 towards the provision of headquarters for the Aberdeen branch. He had been in failing health for some time. He is survived by Mrs Jackson.'
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Fielden’s Magazine Vol 7
- ↑ 1915 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Obituaries
- ↑ Aberdeen Evening Express - Tuesday 15 June 1915