William Hargreaves (1880-1950)
William Hargreaves (1880-1950) founder and governing director of W. Hargreaves and Company, Ltd.
1952 Obituary [1]
"WILLIAM HARGREAVES was the founder and governing director of W. Hargreaves and Company, Ltd., "Sisis" Works, Cheadle, Cheshire, makers of turf renovating equipment. He was born at Ilkley, Yorks, in 1880 and received his technical training at Bradford Technical College. After serving his apprenticeship in the locomotive works of Kitson and Company, Ltd., Leeds, from 1897 to 1901, he held positions as head draughtsman to Bateman Machine Tool Co|The Bateman Machine Tool Company of that city and as draughtsman in the electrical department of Vickers, Ltd., in Sheffield, subsequently rising to be assistant chief draughtsman.
In 1911 he received an appointment as advisory engineer on the staff of the Lancashire Dynamo and Motor Company, Ltd., Manchester, and took an active part in bringing into production the company's patent drive for planing machines. Early in the 1914-18 war he joined the Lancashire Ordnance and Accessories Company, Ltd., Stockport, and rose to be assistant works manager. In 1919 he became associated with R. L. Ross and Co, engineers, of the same town, and was for many years managing director. Mr. Hargreaves founded the firm which bears his name in 1932 and continued to act as governing director until his death, which occurred on 31st May 1950. His inventive genius and capacity for design enabled him to take out many patents, notable among these being the "Low Type Ross Pop Safety Valve". He had been a member of the Institution since 1913 when he was elected an Associate Member, his transference to Membership taking place six years later."