Biographical entry
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Bright Sparcs
Biographical entry
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Topp, Arthur Albert (1886 - 1952) |
| Metallurgist |
| Born: 3 January 1886 South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. Died: 24 May 1952 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. |
| Arthur Albert Topp was Manager of the Explosives Factory at Maribyrnong from 1928-40, Assistant Director of Explosives Supply, Ministry of Munitions 1940-44 and General Manager, Commonwealth Government Explosives Factories. Topp was a pioneer of munitions manufacture and supply. |
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Prior to undertaking a Diploma in Metallurgy (Melbourne Technical College), Arthur Albert Topp worked at Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company’s superphosphate and chemical plants in Yaraville (1906-07). From 1908 to 1910 Topp worked for the Victorian Mines Department Laboratory. The following year he joined the Ministry of Munitions working at the Commonwealth Government Cordite Factory in Maribyrnong. In 1916 the Australian Arsenal was established in Canberra to rationalise the production of Government munitions and Arthur Topp was appointed its General Manager. He was also responsible for overseeing many of the Arsenal’s technical studies and much of this work was carried out in England as part of Topp’s World War I service. In 1928 Arthur Top was appointed Manager of the Explosives Supply section of the Cordite Factory. After 12 years in the role he was promoted to Assistant Director, then General Manager / Director of the Commonwealth Government Explosives Factories. During World War II, Topp helped design and oversee construction of numerous new explosive factories throughout Australia. In the later years of his working life, Arthur Topp’s focus was returned to metallurgy when he was appointed Consultant to the Australian Aluminium Production Commission. The Royal Institute of Chemistry recognized his achievements by electing him Fellow in 1944. Chronology
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Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007 Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Disclaimer, Copyright and Privacy Policy Submit any comments, questions, corrections and additions Prepared by: Acknowledgements Updated: 26 February 2007 http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P002678b.htm |