SPAFFORD, Howsin Sells
FAMILY INFORMATION
Name: Howsin Sells SPAFFORD
Born: ? 22/12/1878 Baptised: 12/1/1879, Adelaide South Australia Married: 20/8/1907 St James, Paddington, London, England Died: ? 1/6/1970 Buried: Spouce: Alice Griffith GRIFFITHS Father: Howsin SPAFFORD Mother: Elizabeth Martha SELLS Siblings: Elizabeth (Lizzie) SPAFFORD Winnifred Harriet (Winnie) SPAFFORD Percival George (Percy) SPAFFORD Irene Sophia SPAFFORD Grace Victoria (Gracie) SPAFFORD Majorie Louise SPAFFORD Children: Elizabeth Mary (Betty) SPAFFORD Harry Griffith SPAFFORD LINKS
worklife http://www.duncanandfraser.com/employees.html
Marriage notice http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5098813 |
Duncan & Fraser Article
Spafford, Howsin Sells "Howie" - nephew of the Duncan brothers, Howie was born on 22nd December 1883(sic) and commenced his body building apprenticeship with Duncan & Fraser in 1895 aged 12. He left in 1900 to gain manufacturing experience in Great Britain, Canada and America returning in 1909. The family story is that Howie had no intention of returning and was drafting a letter saying so when he spilled his coffee all over it; he saw this as fate and only then decided to return to Australia. His appointment as Works Manager in 1910 was seen by some at the time as nepotism and senior tram builder John Dunn resigned over it. By 1919 he was promoted to the grand title of "Master Mechanic, Production & Workshop Manager", basically "second in charge" after the Duncan brothers themselves. He was also on the Executive Committee of the Social Club for many years. Howie is personally responsible for integrating the latest manufacturing techniques in the new Ford "Duncan Motors" body released in July 1921 including welded panels. When the factory caught fire the caretaker rang Howie who in turn notified the Duncan family. After the fire Howie's exceptional management and organisational skills were on display as the company managed to trade by utilising buildings and work shops all over Adelaide. These lessons were fully integrated into the new "Duncan Buildings" that replaced the old factory destroyed by the fire. Howie was also integral in the design and organisation of the Ford assembly line at Mile End. In my opinion Howie was the drive behind the Duncan brothers, a fact supported by French after his trip to South Australia in January 1924. Although Howie was retrenched in 1927, his talents were immediately drafted to Ford Australia in Geelong as Master Mechanic. Retiring to Crystal Brook in the Flinders Ranges to be with his daughter, Howie passed away on 1st June 1970 aged 90.
Newspaper Marriage Notice
The Advertiser, South Australia, Saturday 12 October 1907
SPAFFORD-GRIFFITHS. - On the 29th August, at St. James' Church, Paddington, London, by Rev. H. J. D. McDonald, Howsin Sells, eldest son of Howsin Spafford, Adelaide, to Alice Griffith,youngest daughter of the late David Griffith Griffiths, of Glangrwyney, Breconshire, South Wales. |