Arthur James Arnot
Encyclopedia
Arthur James Arnot was an electrical engineer and inventor, best known for patenting the world's first electric drill
. He later designed the Spencer Street Power Station, Victoria
.
, Glasgow
, while working part time at an electrical company. In 1889 he traveled to Melbourne
to build an alternating current
power plant. The same year, on 20 August, he patented the electric drill. Originally on a two-year contract by Union Electric Company
, Arnot was appointed City Electrical Engineer in 1891. During the first two years of this tenure he was responsible for the installation of the city's street lighting
system. In the years 1894–1901, he designed and later managed the Spencer Street Power Station
. From 1901 to 1929 Arnot held the position of Australasian Manager of Babcock and Wilcox
.
In 1928, one year before his retirement, Arnot became involved in a corruption scandal over a May 1926 contract acquired by Babcock and Wilcox. The investigation revealed that alderman
S. J. Maling had demanded a £10,000 bribe. Arnot, who had represented Babcock and Wilcox in the negotiations, was admonished, and the company was fined. Maling received a six-month prison sentence.
Drill
A drill or drill motor is a tool fitted with a cutting tool attachment or driving tool attachment, usually a drill bit or driver bit, used for drilling holes in various materials or fastening various materials together with the use of fasteners. The attachment is gripped by a chuck at one end of...
. He later designed the Spencer Street Power Station, Victoria
Spencer Street Power Station, Victoria
Spencer Street Power Station was a Victorian era coal-fired power station which operated on Spencer Street in central Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Opened in 1892, it was closed in 1982 after being deemed an eyesore, and in 2006 demolition commenced....
.
Biography
Arnot was born at Hamilton, Scotland to William and Elizabeth Helen Arnot. He received his education at the West of Scotland Technical CollegeRoyal College of Science and Technology
The Royal College of Science and Technology, situated at 138 George Street in Glasgow, Scotland was the principal predecessor institution of the University of Strathclyde, and now serves as one of the main educational buildings of the campus.-History:...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, while working part time at an electrical company. In 1889 he traveled to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to build an alternating current
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
power plant. The same year, on 20 August, he patented the electric drill. Originally on a two-year contract by Union Electric Company
Union Electric Company
The Union Electric Company of Missouri was an electric power utility first organized in 1902. As one of the S&P 500 largest companies in the United States, in 1997 its holding company merged with a smaller neighboring utility, Central Illinois Public Service Company through its holding company,...
, Arnot was appointed City Electrical Engineer in 1891. During the first two years of this tenure he was responsible for the installation of the city's street lighting
Street light
A street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or walkway, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night. Modern lamps may also have light-sensitive photocells to turn them on at dusk, off at dawn, or activate...
system. In the years 1894–1901, he designed and later managed the Spencer Street Power Station
Spencer Street Power Station, Victoria
Spencer Street Power Station was a Victorian era coal-fired power station which operated on Spencer Street in central Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Opened in 1892, it was closed in 1982 after being deemed an eyesore, and in 2006 demolition commenced....
. From 1901 to 1929 Arnot held the position of Australasian Manager of Babcock and Wilcox
Babcock and Wilcox
The Babcock & Wilcox Company is a U.S.-based company that provides design, engineering, manufacturing, construction and facilities management services to nuclear, renewable, fossil power, industrial and government customers worldwide. B&W's boilers supply more than 300,000 megawatts of installed...
.
In 1928, one year before his retirement, Arnot became involved in a corruption scandal over a May 1926 contract acquired by Babcock and Wilcox. The investigation revealed that alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
S. J. Maling had demanded a £10,000 bribe. Arnot, who had represented Babcock and Wilcox in the negotiations, was admonished, and the company was fined. Maling received a six-month prison sentence.