Edwin Reynolds (engineer)

Edwin Reynolds, 1901

Edwin Reynolds (March 23, 1831 – February 19, 1909) was an American mechanical engineer, consulting engineer and inventor, and president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in the year 1902-03. He is known for the development of the Corliss-Reynolds triple expansion pumping engine for water works.^[1]

Born in Mansfield, Connecticut, Reynolds received some years of education at the common school, and started working early as farm hand. In 1847 he was offered a three-year apprenticeship at a machine shop, who repaired machinery of the local textile mills. He was promoted foreman at the age of 18. Subsequently he worked at papermaking machinery manufacturing in South Windham for a year, was department head at Woodruff & Beach Iron Works in Hartford, Connecticut, and worked in several machine shops from Massachusetts to Ohio.^[2]

In 1857 he moved to Aurora, Indiana, where he became superintendent at the Stedham & Co machine and repair shop. During the civil war he worked as engineer in New York and Boston. In 1867 he was appointed by George H. Corliss was engineer and salesman, where he became superintendent of the Corliss Engine Works at Providence by 1871. In 1877 moved to Reliance Works of Edward P. Allis in Milwaukee, where he was appointed general manager and superintendent. He served at the Allis Company, where he eventually became second vice president and director of he Allis Company, until 1902.^[3] His last years he worked as consulting engineer, and was president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in the year 1902-03.^[2]

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