William McWhirter
Encyclopedia
William McWhirter was a Scottish electrical engineer, grandfather of Norris McWhirter
, who invented the combined voltmeter and ammeter, from which such (analogue) subsequent meters were developed.
, becoming a divisional inspector.
In 1882 he worked for Messrs Norman & Sons, setting up the first electrical lighting at Glasgow Central station
. There were no power stations in Glasgow at the time, and under the arches of the railway viaduct on Argyle Street
, a make-shift generator was built from a Robey boiler and engine, with dynamos with copper wire brushes
. A nearby shop was also lit with electricity, by an arc lamp
, and this new contraption drew large crowds.
In 1884 he formed McWhirter & Co, which opened a works in Govan
. This site made big improvements to the efficiency and commutation
of the dynamo. In 1897 he formed William McWhirter and Sons Ltd. He went to India in 1899 to improve the country's railway signalling.
. It was later manufactured by the General Electric Company.
). He was one of the founders of the Scottish Electrical Contractors' Association (now known as SELECT).
, Prof William Edward Ayrton
, Prof John Perry
, Prof Andrew Jamieson, and the American Frank J. Sprague
. He also worked with Hugo Hirst, 1st Baron Hirst.
One of his sons would be William Allan McWhirter, born in 1889, who became the Editor of the Sunday Pictorial (later to become the Sunday Mirror), and Managing Director from 1944-50 of Associated Newspapers
. His grandsons were Norris McWhirter
CBE and Ross McWhirter
.
Norris McWhirter
Norris Dewar McWhirter, CBE was a writer, political activist, co-founder of the Freedom Association, and a television presenter. He and his twin brother, Ross, were known internationally for the Guinness Book of Records, a book they wrote and annually updated together between 1955 and 1975...
, who invented the combined voltmeter and ammeter, from which such (analogue) subsequent meters were developed.
Career
He was apprenticed to his uncle who was a baker. He joined the telegraphic department of the Glasgow and South Western RailwayGlasgow and South Western Railway
The Glasgow and South Western Railway , one of the pre-grouping railway companies, served a triangular area of south-west Scotland, between Glasgow, Stranraer and Carlisle...
, becoming a divisional inspector.
In 1882 he worked for Messrs Norman & Sons, setting up the first electrical lighting at Glasgow Central station
Glasgow Central station
Glasgow Central is the larger of the two present main-line railway terminals in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The station was opened by the Caledonian Railway on 31 July 1879 and is currently managed by Network Rail...
. There were no power stations in Glasgow at the time, and under the arches of the railway viaduct on Argyle Street
Argyle Street, Glasgow
Argyle Street is a major thoroughfare in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland.With Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street, Argyle Street forms the main shopping artery in the city centre...
, a make-shift generator was built from a Robey boiler and engine, with dynamos with copper wire brushes
Brush (electric)
A brush is a device which conducts current between stationary wires and moving parts, most commonly in a rotating shaft. Typical applications include electric motors, alternators and electric generators.-Etymology:...
. A nearby shop was also lit with electricity, by an arc lamp
Arc lamp
"Arc lamp" or "arc light" is the general term for a class of lamps that produce light by an electric arc . The lamp consists of two electrodes, first made from carbon but typically made today of tungsten, which are separated by a gas...
, and this new contraption drew large crowds.
In 1884 he formed McWhirter & Co, which opened a works in Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
. This site made big improvements to the efficiency and commutation
Commutator (electric)
A commutator is a rotary electrical switch in certain types of electric motors or electrical generators that periodically reverses the current direction between the rotor and the external circuit. In a motor, it applies power to the best location on the rotor, and in a generator, picks off power...
of the dynamo. In 1897 he formed William McWhirter and Sons Ltd. He went to India in 1899 to improve the country's railway signalling.
Inventions
In 1883 he patented a combined voltmeter and ammeter, a prototype multimeterMultimeter
A multimeter or a multitester, also known as a VOM , is an electronic measuring instrument that combines several measurement functions in one unit. A typical multimeter may include features such as the ability to measure voltage, current and resistance...
. It was later manufactured by the General Electric Company.
Institutions
In 1880 he joined the Institution of Electrical Engineers (now the Institution of Engineering and TechnologyInstitution of Engineering and Technology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is a British professional body for those working in engineering and technology in the United Kingdom and worldwide. It was formed in 2006 from two separate institutions: the Institution of Electrical Engineers , dating back to 1871, and the...
). He was one of the founders of the Scottish Electrical Contractors' Association (now known as SELECT).
Research
In research he cooperated with Prof Silvanus P. ThompsonSilvanus P. Thompson
Silvanus Phillips Thompson FRS was a professor of physics at the City and Guilds Technical College in Finsbury, England. He was elected to the Royal Society in 1891 and was known for his work as an electrical engineer and as an author...
, Prof William Edward Ayrton
William Edward Ayrton
-See also:*Henry Dyer*John Milne*Anglo-Japanese relations...
, Prof John Perry
John Perry (engineer)
John Perry was a pioneering engineer and mathematician from Ireland. He was born on February 14, 1850 at Garvagh, County Londonderry, the second son of Samuel Perry and a Scottish-born wife....
, Prof Andrew Jamieson, and the American Frank J. Sprague
Frank J. Sprague
Frank Julian Sprague was an American naval officer and inventor who contributed to the development of the electric motor, electric railways, and electric elevators...
. He also worked with Hugo Hirst, 1st Baron Hirst.
Personal life
He married Marian, from Ayr.One of his sons would be William Allan McWhirter, born in 1889, who became the Editor of the Sunday Pictorial (later to become the Sunday Mirror), and Managing Director from 1944-50 of Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers is a large national newspaper publisher in the UK, which is a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust. The group was established in 1905 and is currently based at Northcliffe House in Kensington...
. His grandsons were Norris McWhirter
Norris McWhirter
Norris Dewar McWhirter, CBE was a writer, political activist, co-founder of the Freedom Association, and a television presenter. He and his twin brother, Ross, were known internationally for the Guinness Book of Records, a book they wrote and annually updated together between 1955 and 1975...
CBE and Ross McWhirter
Ross McWhirter
Alan Ross Mayfield McWhirter , known as Ross McWhirter, was, with his twin brother, Norris McWhirter, co-founder of the Guinness Book of Records and a contributor to Record Breakers...
.