ALLEN J.R.

ALLEN J.R. 23.07. 1869 Milwaukee WI/USA 26.10. 1920 Pittsburgh PA/USA John Robins Allen graduated in 1892 as mechanical engineer from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI, then initiating his professional career with a construction company. After only two years, he started training students in engineering, as instructor and finally as professor of mechanical engineering at University of Michigan. He was engaged as dean in the reorganization of the engineering department, Robert College, Constantinople Turkey, from 1911 to 1913. On his return to the USA, Allen became dean of his alma mater. In 1918, he was appointed Director of the Bureau of Research of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers. He passed away unexpectedly at ago of only 51. Allen was a prolific author on heating subjects including the books Heat engines and Notes on heating and ventilation. The latter was continued after his death by his coauthor Walker, to whom joined also James as the third author. This book was a standard text in heating engineering and in 1946 was in its sixth edition. Allen was president of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers in 1912, after having been Vice-President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME. He was also a Member of the British Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers and thereby served as consultant for a large building project. Allen possessed a strikingly magnetic personality and favored with the ability to discuss intricate scientific problems in language easy to follow. His death came just as the work at the Research Bureau was beginning to produce important results. It was a satisfaction, however, that Allen expressed shortly before his death that the work was in a shape that it can go on for some time without his directing oversight. Allen, J.R. (1914). Heat engines: Steam, gas, steam turbines and their auxiliaries. McGraw-Hill: New York. Allen, J.R., Walker, J.H. (1922). Heating and ventilation. McGraw-Hill: New York. Allen, J.R., Walker, J.H., James, J.W. (1946). Heating and air conditioning. McGraw-Hill: New York. Anonymous (1912). Prof. John R. Allen. The Heating and Ventilating Magazine 9(2): 35. P Anonymous (1920). Death of John R. Allen. The Heating and Ventilating Magazine 17(11): 49. P Cattell, J.M., Brimhall, D.R., eds. (1921). John Robins Allen. American men of science: A biographical dictionary 3: 10. The Science Press: New York.