Walter Reginald Hume (29 November 1873 – 21 July 1943) was an Australian inventor and industrialist known for inventing modern techniques of producing concrete and steel pipes.
Hume travelled around Victoria in his early years with his father who gave lectures as a professional phrenologist. Walter Hume was 12 years old when his father died and in the altered family circumstances, Hume had to leave school to find work. He tried his hand at several trades, including plasterering.
Invention and industry
During the depression of the 1890s, Hume and his elder brother, Ernest James Hume (ca.1869 – 18 January 1929), joined forces and worked in country Victoria in construction, repair and farming, from which they developed a workshop business at Malmsbury, Victoria making fencing droppers from hoop iron.[1] The brothers received their first patent for this work.[2]
The brothers moved to South Australia to establish a second factory, but soon after closed down the original Malmsbury business, diversifying towards ornamental steel fencing. In 1910, they established Humes' Patent Cement Iron Syndicate Ltd.as a means of commercialising and developing the centrifugal process for the manufacture of concrete pipes invented by Hume. This technology had a profound impact internationally in developing modern drainage and sewerage systems.[3] On 7 November 1940, a significant contract was signed with the South Australian Government, for construction of the Morgan Whyalla pipeline, to the value of £505,627.[1] Between 1921 and 1926 they ran 250 miles (400 km) of reinforced concrete pipe for the Loveday Irrigation Project. The locomotive used to transport all materials has been restored and operates as an attraction at the Cobdogla Irrigation Museum.
Walter Hume died of cancer in Melbourne on 21 July 1943,[4] leaving five sons and three daughters.[1]
References
^ abc"One of Australia's Greatest Captains of Industry". The Recorder. Port Pirie, SA. 23 July 1943. p. 1. Retrieved 29 July 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
^G. D. Snooks, 'Hume, Walter Reginald (1873–1943)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published in hardcopy 1983, accessed online 6 July 2014
^Encel, S; O'Dea, M (1966), "Walter Reginald Hume (1874–1947): Some Notes on a Pioneer of Pipe Technology", Historical Records of Australian Science, CSIRO Publishing, 1 (4): 17–26, ISSN 1448-5508
^"MR W.HUME". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 22 July 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 6 July 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
January 06, 2023
walter, reginald, hume, november, 1873, july, 1943, australian, inventor, industrialist, known, inventing, modern, techniques, producing, concrete, steel, pipes, born, 1873, november, 1873fitzroy, victoria, australiadied21, july, 1943, 1943, aged, melbourne, v. Walter Reginald Hume 29 November 1873 21 July 1943 was an Australian inventor and industrialist known for inventing modern techniques of producing concrete and steel pipes Walter Reginald HumeBornWalter Reginald Hume 1873 11 29 29 November 1873Fitzroy Victoria AustraliaDied21 July 1943 1943 07 21 aged 69 Melbourne Victoria AustraliaOccupation s Inventor and manufacturerSpouseAlice Louisa Bourne MudfordChildren9RelativesErnest J Hume Stella Hume Contents 1 Early life 2 Invention and industry 3 Death 4 ReferencesEarly life EditHume travelled around Victoria in his early years with his father who gave lectures as a professional phrenologist Walter Hume was 12 years old when his father died and in the altered family circumstances Hume had to leave school to find work He tried his hand at several trades including plasterering Invention and industry EditDuring the depression of the 1890s Hume and his elder brother Ernest James Hume ca 1869 18 January 1929 joined forces and worked in country Victoria in construction repair and farming from which they developed a workshop business at Malmsbury Victoria making fencing droppers from hoop iron 1 The brothers received their first patent for this work 2 The brothers moved to South Australia to establish a second factory but soon after closed down the original Malmsbury business diversifying towards ornamental steel fencing In 1910 they established Humes Patent Cement Iron Syndicate Ltd as a means of commercialising and developing the centrifugal process for the manufacture of concrete pipes invented by Hume This technology had a profound impact internationally in developing modern drainage and sewerage systems 3 On 7 November 1940 a significant contract was signed with the South Australian Government for construction of the Morgan Whyalla pipeline to the value of 505 627 1 Between 1921 and 1926 they ran 250 miles 400 km of reinforced concrete pipe for the Loveday Irrigation Project The locomotive used to transport all materials has been restored and operates as an attraction at the Cobdogla Irrigation Museum William Dargie painted two portraits of Hume Death EditWalter Hume died of cancer in Melbourne on 21 July 1943 4 leaving five sons and three daughters 1 References Edit a b c One of Australia s Greatest Captains of Industry The Recorder Port Pirie SA 23 July 1943 p 1 Retrieved 29 July 2014 via National Library of Australia G D Snooks Hume Walter Reginald 1873 1943 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University published in hardcopy 1983 accessed online 6 July 2014 Encel S O Dea M 1966 Walter Reginald Hume 1874 1947 Some Notes on a Pioneer of Pipe Technology Historical Records of Australian Science CSIRO Publishing 1 4 17 26 ISSN 1448 5508 MR W HUME The Mercury Hobart Tasmania 22 July 1943 p 4 Retrieved 6 July 2014 via National Library of Australia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Reginald Hume amp oldid 1113533901, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
