John_Lofting

John Lofting

John Lofting

Dutch engineer (1659–1742)

John Lofting (1659 – 15 June 1742, London), originally Jan Loftingh, was an engineer and entrepreneur from the Netherlands.

Quick Facts Jan Lofting, Born ...

Biography

His parents were Herman and Johanna. He moved to London, England, before 1686.[1] He patented two inventions: the "sucking worm engine" (a fire engine)[2] and a horse-powered thimble knurling machine.[1] His mill was set up in Islington, where Lofting Road is named after him.[3] However, in or about 1700, he moved his main operation to Great Marlow in Buckinghamshire to take advantage of the River Thames' ability to turn a water wheel which improved productivity, enabling the production of over 2 million thimbles per year.[1]

References

  1. [1]
    Trentmann, Frank (2012). The Oxford Handbook of the History of Consumption. Oxford University Press. p. 77. ISBN 9780191624353.
  2. [2]
    Sutton, Peter C. (2006). Jan Van Der Heyden: 1637-1712. Yale University Press. p. 234. ISBN 9780300119701.
  3. [3]
    Fairfield, Sheila (1983). The streets of London: a dictionary of the names and their origins. Macmillan. p. 196. ISBN 9780333286494.
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