Ernest George Beck
Ernest George Beck ( -1940)
1940 Obituary [1]
ERNEST GEORGE BECK, Wh.Ex., served his apprenticeship in the engineering department of the London and India Docks Joint Committee (now merged in the Port of London Authority), at the Royal Victoria Docks from 1895 until 1901, when he obtained a Whitworth Exhibition. After employment as a draughtsman and designer with various firms, he was appointed in September 1903, engineering assistant on the administrative staff of the London County Council, and was at first attached to the Works Department for the construction of large tramcar sheds, and Greenwich Power Station, and other works in connection with the tramways, as well as sewage pumping and fire brigade stations.
In 1908 he was transferred to the Architect's Department for the investigation of structural designs submitted for approval in respect of exhibition buildings. He was employed under the chief engineer at the Becontree Estate, for the erection of 30,000 houses, until he was recalled to the architect's department for duty as second officer in charge of heating apparatus and the design of new structural steelwork. Mr. Beck was senior assistant on the established administrative staff of the London County Council at the time of his death, which occurred on 20th February 1940.
He was the author of books and articles on structural steelwork, tank construction, and mathematics, and was also editor of the "Practical Engineer Pocket Book". In connection with an inquiry held in 1927 into the collapse of a house at 53 Beak Street, London, W.1, Mr. Beck was called in to give his opinions; he constructed an ingenious model to show the causes of the collapse. He also held the patent of an invention in connection with the supply of air to organs and other wind instruments.
Elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1925, Mr. Beck was also an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.