Charles and Martha on the beach in Aberystwyth
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Early daysCharles was educated at the Holy Trinity School in Smethwick and later attended evening classes arranged by the revered Head Master of Spon Lane School, West Bromwich. It seems even as a child and young man it was recognised that he had huge potential and how right they were as he became a captain of industry and an eminent gas engineer as well as a prominent character in the town where he lived.
His first post in industrial life was at the Plate Glass Works in Smethwick and by the 1881 census Charles was registered as being an engine fitter and living at 59 Regent Street, Smethwick, Staffs. He'd met and married Martha Bellingham in the early 1870's and had only one child, a son called John Pinkney born in 1876, who went on to marry Hannah and have two daughters. John followed in his father's footsteps and also became a gas engineer but not such an acclaimed engineer as Charles and sadly died quite young. |
Tangyes |
1876 In the year his son was born Charles joined Tangye Brothers at their Cornwall Works, a huge employer in Birmingham where they manufactured pumps, lifting equipment, engines and machine tools. It was here where Charles really made his mark. His inventiveness and experience made him extremely valuable to the Tangyes and he was soon put in charge of the gas engine ‘sheds’. His opinion was heavily relied upon for the assessment of new gas-engine inventions submitted to the firm.
1889 The company began building a Clerk’s patent two-stroke gas engine. However, in the meantime Charles Pinkney had designed a new four-stroke engine. He worked closely with Robson on this and was responsible for considerable improvements in the design of the gas hammer. Charles's gas engine was ready by 1889 and was found to be slightly more economical than the German designed ‘Otto’ engine they'd been manufacturing. In the late 1890's, Charles was developing a petroleum engine which he patented in 1891 and became the refined petroleum engine which Tangyes introduced in 1892. |
1880 saw the manufacture of the James Robson and Charles Pinkney gas hammer. Tangyes won gold medal at the Paris exhibition for this.
1894 Pinkney designed a ‘Hydro-carbon Gas Producer’ but Tangye's didn't develop it for reasons unknown.
1898 A portable oil engine of Pinkney’s design was shown at the Royal Agricultural Show. This engine, which developed 6bhp, incorporated an unusual arrangement for cooling the water. Here comes the tech stuff:
"The engine draws the water out of a tank that forms its base, and forces it through the cylinder jacket and thence through a pipe from the top of the cylinder, on to a canopy, where the water is split up and cooled while being exposed to the atmosphere. The water next passes on to the roof of the carriage where it is collected and allowed to drain back into the base or tank of the engine, and used over again." Extract taken from www.oldengine.org |
2 January 1891
28 April 1891 27 November 1893 Date unknown Date unknown Date unknown 29 January 1895 Date unknown |
No. 103
No. 7313 No. 22753 No. 2645 No. 3525 No. 11138 No. 2017 No. 17955 |
Gas Engine
Gas Engine Improvements in Internal Combustion Engines Improvements in gas engines Improvements in gas engines Improvements in or connected with engines worked by gas generated from petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon Improvements in apparatus or furnaces for producing gas from carbonaceous matter An improved metallic alloy more especially intended for use for gas or petroleum enginer igniters, or like articles subjected to great heat |
It was resolved that this Council, in testimony of the outstanding public service rendered to Smethwich for more than thirty years by Alderman Charles William Pinkney JP, the Senior Member of the Council, in recognition of his notable achievements in the applied science of engineering and in grateful acknowledgment of the readiness with which his scientific knowledge, his technological enthusiasm and his wide experience of public administration have been employed for the benefit of this, his native town, do hereby record their high appreciation of his career of public service and in particular his long and invaluable labours to the upbuilding of the Smethwick Gas Undertaking, his worthy assistance in the advancement of education in the Borough, especially on its technical side, his manifold activities as Chairman of the Watch Committee, his meritorious work as a Borough Magistrate and his conscientious discharge for many year of the duties and responsibilities of Chairman of the Licensing Committee. And in pursuance of the Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act 1885, do hereby confer upon him the Honorary Freedom of this County Borough and he is hereby admitted to be an Honorary Freeman of the County Borough of Smethwick accordingly.
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My Nan remembers the ceremony at the Council House well. She was only about 6 years old and was the only great-grandchild at the time so a big fuss was made of her. She remembers very clearly riding in the fancy car with him and wearing a brown coat with a velvet collar. She insisted on having a particular pair of shoes she'd seen for the occasion and her love of shoes and fashion continues to this day at the grand young age of 92.
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Nan used to love going to his house as a child - that's them together on the right. Having lived on a farm in rural Clent, she was fascinated by the lights and life of what must have seemed like a huge town.
She also remembers the house with its extravagant gas lighting and her Great Grandfather's huge workshop at the back of his house on Raglan Road, Smethwick where he and his employees worked on all things mechanical. Such was his standing in society by then, he had two maids, one called Rose, who used to take Nan to Meesons sweet shop whenever she visited - a very rare special treat. |
And now, almost 100 years later, it seems fitting that here I am, his great, great, great grandson, a gas heating engineer.
I would like to have met and chatted to Charles Pinkney, I think we would have got on quite well. |
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