Thomas Broadbent
Thomas Broadbent (1835-1880) of Thomas Broadbent and Sons
1860 Birth of son William Broadbent
c1863 Birth of son Horace Broadbent
1877 Birth of son Francis James Broadbent
1881 Obituary [1]
THOMAS BROADBENT was born at Kirkheaton, near Huddersfield, on 5th October 1833.
After being educated at Huddersfield College, and serving an apprenticeship to Mr. Richard Armitage in that town, he commenced business at Milnsbridge near Huddersfield as mechanical engineer and millwright, in partnership with Mr. B. J. Shaw, a fellow apprentice.
On the dissolution of the partnership in 1868 he commenced business for himself at Huddersfield.
He was the architect and engineer of the Slaithwaite Spinning Mill, the largest concern in the district; and erected the winding gear for hauling up clay wagons on the inclined plane at Wessenden Head, for the construction of the Huddersfield waterworks reservoir. He was frequently consulted in other engineering works of the town.
Shortly before his death he introduced an improvement in hydro-extractors, for sugar refining, drying purposes, &c., employing a small steam engine to drive the machine direct at a speed of 1,200 revs. per min.
His death took place on 5th December 1880, at the age of forty-seven, from typhoid fever.
He became a Member of the Institution in 1875.