Thomas James Taplin died on February 1st, 1988, at Richmond, Surrey, at the age of 52.
His technical training began with four years evening classes in mechanical and civil engineering subjects, whilst in the shops and drawing office of the Leeds Forge Co. Previously he had specialized in chemistry and had worked under a civil engineer, Mr. H.G. Humby. During 1910 and 1911 he was employed in the drawing office of the Thames Ironworks shipbuilding works.
In 1911 he obtained first place in the associate membership examination of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He then became chief of staff to Messrs. W.G. Perkins & W.C. Madge, consultants in copper metallurgy, and was associated with the design and erection of several copper plants, including Spassky, Kyshtim, Famatina, and Tul Mi Chung. From 1914-18 he was construction engineer to Spassky Copper Mines, Ltd. and he was retained in Siberia on the instructions of the British Embassy.
In 1918 he joined the Artists Rifles O.T.C. and served till 1919. He then visited American copper plants and did further work in Siberia on behalf of the Spassky company. On his return to England in 1920 he was associated with Selection Trust, Ltd., Messrs. Sulman & Picard, and Mr. W.G. Perkins. He worked on the development of ammonia leaching, and in 1921 he joined Minerals Separation, Ltd., on the formation of Metals Production, Ltd., to continue the development of the process.
In 1926 he went to Bwana M’Kubwa as technical representative on behalf of Minerals’ Separation, Ltd. and from then until 1931 he was engaged by the same company in the development of the ‘segregation’ process for oxide and oxide-sulphide ores of copper. Mr. Taplin demonstrated the process in Brussels and designed the first commercial plant for Union Minière du Haut Katanga. From 1981 onwards he was engaged mainly in consulting work. His contributions to technical literature included an important article on practical crushing efficiency in the Mining Magazine.
Mr. Taplin was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1916, and was transferred to Membership in 1932.
Vol. 48, Trans IMM 1938-39, p.843
