The following is a copy of an entry in “The Institution of Mechanical Engineers” publication titled “Memoirs” “Excerpt Minutes of Proceedings” dated July 1910 (pages 1401 and 1402), Published by The Institution, Storey’s Gate, St. James Park, Westminster, SW: (I have a copy of this book- JR)
“Wilfred Reeves was born at Birkenhead on 21st July 1853, and received his education at the College of St. Francis Xavier in Liverpool. From 1869 to 1871 he served the first part of his apprenticeship at the Britannia Engine Works, Birkenhead, which was followed by two years in the engine works of the Liverpool and Great Western Steamship Co. (Guion Line), and one year in the Inchicore works of the Great Southern and Western Railway, Ireland. On its completion in 1874 he went to sea as Fourth, Third, Second and Chief Engineer, obtaining his Board of Trade Certificate. In 1883 he became manager and proprietor of the Kakchie Iron Works, Swatow, China, until 1886 when he started as consulting engineer in Tientsin (now TianJin) and Peking (Now BeiJing), and from 1888 to 1892 he was engineer-in-charge of the engine works and dry docks of Messrs. S. C. Farnham and Co. Shanghai (“Old Dock”). Returning to England in 1892, he became associated with the late firm of Maudslay, Sons and Field in connection with marine feed-water filters, and shortly afterwards he brought out the “Reeves Feed-water Filter,” in which the filtering medium was ordinary sawdust. He next directed his attention to the question of the filtration of water for municipal supplies, and devised several filters to deal with this. A company was formed to acquire the rights which were afterwards let for active working to Messrs. Mather and Platt, of Salford, and Mr. Reeves became the manager of that department. The climate and conditions of Manchester did not suit his health, which broke down, and he resigned his position in 1902. He then went to live in Belfast, and established himself in that city as a consulting engineer; in spite of his impaired health he attained a considerable measure of success in his profession. During this period he invented and brought out the “Turnover” filter, designed for use in large public water supplies, and in the discussion on Mr. John Don’s Paper on “Purification of Water for Public Supply,” he gave a short account of this method of filtration. (See The Institute of Mechanical Engineers “Proceedings” 1900, Part 1, page 181) His death took place at Belfast on 1st June 1910, in his fifty-seventh year. He became a member of this Institution in 1902; he was also a Member of the Institute of Marine Engineers and the Liverpool Engineering Society.”
