Percy Brown

Percy Brown (c1878-1931), Vice-chairman and joint managing director of David Brown and Sons

c1878 Born the son of David Brown

1881 Living at South Street, Huddersfield: David Brown (age 39 born Halifax), Model Maker employing 3 Men and 4 Boys. With his wife Mary Jane Brown (age 40 born Shepley) and their three sons; Ernest Matthew Brown (age 10 born Huddersfield); Francis Edwin Brown (age 7 born Huddersfield); and Percy Brown (age 3 born Huddersfield). One servant.

1891 Living at 72 South Street, Huddersfield: David Brown (age 49 born Halifax), Engineer's Pattern Maker and an Employer. With his wife Mary Jane Brown (age 49 born Shepley) and their three children: Ernest M. Brown (age 20 born Huddersfield); Francis E. Brown (age 17 born Huddersfield), Engineer's Pattern Maker; and Percy Brown (age 13 born Huddersfield), Engineer's Pattern Maker. One servant.

1901 Living at 72 South Street, Huddersfield: David Brown (age 58 born Halifax), Retired Pattern Maker. with his wife Mary J. Brown (age 59 born Shepley) and their three sons; Ernest W. Brown (age 29 born Huddersfield), Pattern Maker and Gear Cutter and Employer; Frank E. Brown (age 24 born Huddersfield), Pattern Maker and Gear Cutter and Employer; and Percy Brown (age 23 born Huddersfield), Pattern Maker and Gear Cutter and Employer. One servant.

1911 Living at 41 Park Road, Crosland Moor, Huddersfield: Percy Brown (age 33 born Huddersfield), Single, Gear Cutter and Employer. With his brother Ernest M. Brown (age 39 born Huddersfield), Single, Pattern Maker and Employer. Also one servant.

1931 Died at Huddersfield

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1931 Obituary.

WE learn with regret of the death, on June 1st, at the early age of fifty-three, of Mr. Percy Brown, son of the late Mr. David Brown, who, in the year 1860, founded the firm of David Brown and Sons (Huddfd.), Ltd., Huddersfield, of which firm he was vice-chairman and joint managing director. He was also a director of the Societe Francaise des Procedes David Brown and Sons, a new continental company formed for the manufacture of gearing in France.

Mr. Percy Brown was actively associated with the firm throughout the whole of his business life, and was known personally in a wide circle of the engineering profession. He played an important part in the development of gear design, particularly in connection with the design and construction of machines for gear production. Essentially practical, he had an intimate knowledge of every detail of manufacture and was ever keen and enthusiastic in applying any possible improvement for the better or more accurate production of every type of gear manufacture. When during the war the capacity of the Park Works was taxed to its utmost, Mr. Brown's experience and energies were evidenced in full measure.

He was a member of the iron and Steel Institute, the British Foundrymen's Association, and the Institute of Metals, and had always a generous sympathy with engineering and metallurgical research.

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1931 Obituary

PERCY BROWN, died at his residence, "Springfield," Edgerton, Huddersfield, on Monday, June 1, 1931, at the age of fifty-three.

Mr. Brown was Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director of David Brown & Sons (Huddfd.) Ltd., Huddersfield, and was also a Director of the Societe Francaise des Procedes David Brown & Sons, a new Continental company formed in France, for the manufacture of worm gearing. He was actively associated with the firm throughout the whole of his business life, and is known personally to a large number of the engineering profession. He played an important part in the development ,of gear design, particularly in connection with the design and construction of machines for gear production.

Essentially practical, Mr. Brown had an intimate knowledge of every detail of manufacture and was ever keen and enthusiastic in applying any possible improvement for the better or more accurate production of every type of gear. When during the war the capacity of Park Works was called upon to its utmost, Mr. Brown's experience and energies were evidenced in full measure.

He was a member of the Iron and Steel Institute, and of the British Foundrymen's Association, and always had a generous sympathy with engineering and metallurgical research. At Park Works his death will bring to the memory of many his willing and timely help ; in cases of difficulty, his sympathies were always spontaneously generous.

It will be remembered by many that Mr. Percy Brown was the son of the late Mr. David Brown, who in the year 1860 founded the firm with which he was associated, and it may be truly said that his initiative and persistent energy have greatly contributed to the rapid development of gear manufacture and application. His untimely death is all the more regrettable since on the Friday prior to his death, H.R.H. Prince George honoured the firm by a visit, at which function Mr. Brown was unable to be present.

Percy Brown was elected a member of the Institute of Metals on September 20, 1916.

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1931 Obituary

"The Late Mr. Percy Brown.— We regret to announce the death, after a short illness, of Mr. Percy Brown, vice-chairman and joint managing director of Messrs. David Brown and Sons (Huddersfield), Limited, engineers and machine-cut gear manufacturers, Park Works, Lockwood, Huddersfield. Mr. Brown, who passed away on June 1, at his home, “Springfield,” Edgerton, Huddersfield, was also a director of the Societe Francaise des Procedes David Brown and Sons, a new Continental company formed for the manufacture of worm gearing in France. He was 53 years of age and was the son of the late Mr. David Brown, who founded the firm which bears his name in 1860. The concern, it may he mentioned m passing, was incorporated as a limited company in 1912.

Mr. Percy Brown was intimately connected with this firm throughout his life, and took an active part in the development of gear design, particularly in connection with the design and construction of machines for gear production. For many years a member of the Institute of British Foundrymen, Mr. Brown became a member of the Institute of Metals in 1916 and of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1918."

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