MR FRANK ELMORE, A.M.I.E.E.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21749, 14 September 1932, Page 7

MR FRANK ELMORE, A.M.I.E.E.

We reproduce from the Hemel. Hampstead Advertiser the following with reference to the death pu July 20 of Mr Frank Elmore, who was married to Miss Margaret Fitchett, second daughter of the late Dean Fitchett, of this city:— On Tuesday morning the death of Mr Frank Elmore at Threefields, Boxmoor, deprived the Empire of one of her most brilliant metallurgical engineers. Born in 1864 he was educated in England and America, and as the private pupil of the celebrated Professors Ayrton and Perry, he laid the foundations of his distinguished career in electrical engineering and metallurgy. Later he became an associate member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, and in close conjunction with his brother, A. S. Elmore, he developed researches of the greatest magnitude and importance. In no corner of the civilised world is there a spot which does not directly or indirectly benefit by the work of the Elmore "brothers. Perhaps their most universally known achievements are the “ copper burnishing ” and the “ flotation ” processes. The latter enables minerals, much heavier than water, to be separated from the rock and sludge in which they are incorporated in the crude state, by causing them to float to the surface of the water, where they are collected in a pure state while the base material sinks to the bottom. To the world this process brought an economic advantage of incalculable value. It permitted the use of low-grade ores, and it replaced the wasteful methods of concentration which previously had added greatly to the cost of metal production. To the British Empire alone the annual saving, thanks to the process, amounts to many millions. To cite but one example, the resuscitation of Broken Hill in Australia by the introduction of the Elmore process is an outstanding instance of its dominant influence for the common weal. The copper burnishing process was also of paramount importance to industry. Some of us still remember the tragedy of the steamship Lahn. She was fitted with high-pressure boilers, and the whole engineering world watched the new departure with intense interest. At that time, copper steam pipes were made with welded seams, the strength _ of which varied according to the skill of the welder. In the case of the Lahn the main steam pipe burst on her maiden voyage, with great losS of life. The researches of the Elmore brothers enabled seamless copper tubes to be produced of any size and of a tensile strength hitherto unknown. The production of such steam pipes made the high-pressure boiler of to-day a technical possibility. What this meant to the world cannot be computed in figures; its immensity can be, imagined.

Mr Elmore, like his achievements, impressed everyone who knew him. Genial, kindly, and extraordinarily helpful to the honest worker, he displayed an implacable sternness to the shyster or charlatan. To him, injustice, carelessness, or error were abhorrent. He had the true scientific veneration for truth and beauty. Of powerful mentality, he thought with clear logical deduction. The “Writing on the Wall” unseen by his compeers was, to him. plain, and its accurate interpretation enabled him to determine many apparently insoluble problems.

There were no phenomena so simple and none so abstruse whose mechanism and motive did not interest him. Everything was fraught with meaning, and his wide knowledge made discussion with

him an inspiration. His conversation was a delight, and his mind a, fascinating wonderland. Occupied as he was with his far-reach-ing laboratory work he had little time to devote to local affairs, but his advice, his support, and encouragement in vital matters were of very material .value to those who consulted him. He defended the rights of the people in commons, bridle and footpaths, with vigour, and recently bis quiet but energetic activity did much to secure the future sanctity of “The Moor ” to the purposes intended by. its donors. He strenuously avoided any publicity. His love for animals was so great that he almost regarded them as personal friends, and the animal in turn accepted him with trust and affection. His keen sense of humour balanced and mellowed his sterner outlook, and displayed his essentially kindly attitude to men and their affairs. To his wife and brother we. offer our deepest sympathy. We feel, however, that their sorrow, and ours, is mitigated and yet made more poignant by a pride in one whose personality endorsed the tenet that “man was created after-the image of God.” MR A. H. NOALL (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 13. The death is announced, of Mr A. H. ISToall, sharebroker, and •secretary of the Amberley and Hororata Racing Clubs.. He was well known in spotting circles.