Well over a century ago, a forgotten inventor was using an electric car to commute to his offices in Wolverhampton, a true pioneer of eco transport. Brendan Walker uncovers the story of Thomas Parker and of the 21st century innovators putting the Midlands at the heart of a revolution in eco-friendly transport.
Not quite so forgotten now!
Thomas Parker was Member number 324 of “The Society of Telegraph-Engineers & Electricians” (now The IET) joining in February 1885. In 1895 Lord Kelvin described Thomas Parker as "The Edison of Europe" in 1895.
The Times 4th May, 1907
The career of Mr. Thomas Parker, J.P., M. Inst C.E., M. Inst. M.E., M. Inst. E.E, of Wolverhampton, the inventor of Coalite, is one of those of commercial and scientific activity which are rarely recorded until the subject of them has passed from out of our midst. It would be no excessive compliment to speak of Mr. Parker as an English Edison.
The order of his institution post-nominals relates to the “seniority” of each of the institutions (ICE 1818, IMechE 1847, IEE 1871) He was an IEE member first, although subsequently awarded a George Stephenson Gold Medal by ICE in 1894. An award currently conferred by IMechE.
It is perhaps topical in the light of the recent Uff report and General Election, to reflect on the multi-disciplinary achievements and social commitment of one of our greatest members. His achievements embraced the scope of Electrical, Mechanical, Civil & Chemical Engineering and he was a classic late Victorian “self-made” man. Born in humble circumstances and starting work around the age of 10, by the end of his career he was greatly successful and quite wealthy. However, he remained an active member of the Liberal Party throughout his life, stood unsuccessfully as the candidate for the Kingswinford Constituency in the 1892 election and was a president of his local Liberal and Labour Association.
It is also interesting to speculate how we manged to largely forget Thomas Parker. He died in 1915 in the middle of the Great War and his obituary appears in IEE proceedings adjacent to Sir Arthur William Rucker FRS. Perhaps his social background and political sympathies were a factor, or the lack of any military service, at a time when this was highly valued by the institution? At an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of Parker’s death in October 2015, a Historian compared him with contemporary R E B Compton who became much better remembered. There were perhaps as number of factors, such social connection (Harrow and the Military), activism within the Institution and perhaps most importantly living 23 years longer, with a company that became a “household” name. Much of the legacy of both much later fell under the control of Hawker Siddeley Group, although the Elwell-Parker brand name established in 1882 in Wolverhampton, is still in use in the USA.
http://www.engineering-timelines.com/who/Parker_T/parkerThomas.asp
http://www.elwellparker.com/our-legacy
Moderator Edit: 09:25 13/06/2017
