Albert James Kelman died in St. Mary’s Hospital, London, on 31st December, 1953. He was 68 years of age.
Mr. Kelman was born at Alexandra, New Zealand, and was educated at Alexandra South Public School and Otago High School, Dunedin. He served five years’ engineering apprenticeship with Messrs. Cossens and Black of Dunedin from 1903 to 1908, and for the next five years held the post of engineer-in-charge at Earnscleugh Gold Dredging Co., Ltd., during that period studying mining, particularly dredging and hydraulicing on the Otago gold fields.
In April, 1913, Mr. Kelman joined Malayan Tin Dredging Co., Ltd., with which he was to be associated for the rest of his life. He began as dredgemaster and engineer at Batu Gaiah, Perak, became chief engineer, and in November, 1917, was promoted general manager. He held that position until 1934, from 1926 to 1934 holding the general managership of Southern Malayan Tin Dredging, Ltd., also, and from 1930 to 1934 directing operations of Kramat Pulai, Ltd., producing tin and scheelite.
In 1934 he was appointed a director of Malayan Tin Dredging Co., Ltd., Southern Malayan Tin Dredging, Ltd., and Kramat Pulai, Ltd. Later Mr. Kelman was made technical adviser of those three companies while remaining on the board, and he was also a director of Lahat Mines, Ltd., and Dowsing Co. (Electrical Manufacturers), Ltd. He had been a Member of Council of the Federated Malay States Chamber of Mines from 1922 to 1924 and had served as President during the period 1925-1926.
Mr. Kelman was elected a Member of the Institution in 1927.
Vol. 63, Trans IMM 1953-54, p.456
