New-York tribune., 1907-12-29

Peale) Sellers. He attended private schools in that
city until his twelfth year, when he went to the
academy of Anthony Bolmar. at West Chester,
Penn, where he finished the course at the age or
seventeen.
He early evinced a strong aptitude for scientific
studies. suppIementing the meagre instruction al
forded in such branches in those days by outside
reading experimentation, for which latter pur-
pose he constructed his apparatus. In this
work he showed great skill and exactitude, ana
no little ingenuity. Destined by his parents Tor
farmer, he spent two years III agricultural pur-
suits but remaining true TO his mechanical bent
spent much of his time in devising improved farm
machinery, including q metal toother hayrake.
mounted wheels, long antedating the horse
rake, now in general At the age OF nineteen
his conspicuous ability in the designing OF machln-
cry led TO his engagement by his elder brothers as
a craftsman in the Globe Rolling Mills at Gin
cinnati. AT the time he thoroughly familiar
lied himself with ali the processes employed in the
mills, suggesting and introducing many smplih-
cations aad improvements. Within two years. and
before he attained his majority. he was appointed
slIperintendent and general manager
His success in building locomotive engines of his
brothers invention for on the Panama Railroad
procured for him engagement In 1851 as foreman
of Niles G. Co., locomotive builders OF Cincinnati.
Five years he returned to Philadelphia at the
solicitation his kinsman. William Sellers. head
of the of William Sellers & Co, manufacturers
Of machinery and machinists' tools, TO take charge
more than thirty years. becoming chief engineer of
the establishment and being admitted to partner
ship in 1873
During this period he designed a great variety of
tools and machinery. his work being characterized
by originality, correct mechanical design and un-
usual elegance of outline.
His activity In these directions seemed TO stIn1u
rather than 30 interfere with his interest and
participation in other scientific advances He was
the first person TO think OF and to recommend the
chs for giC rTlrDa
which he did in 1861 Desiring to utilize photog
raphy for illustrating machinery for advertising
purposes. In 1885, he made himself master OF the
art, and responsible for many improvements
In it, such the OF glycerine TO keep wet
plates wet for an indefinite period greatly sim
plifying the practice of field photography before
the days of dry plates.
In 1851 he patented the kinematoscope, ap-
paratus for the exhibition of stereoscopic pictures
of objects in motion. which the forerunner OF
the modern moving picture" machines, which
developed only after the invention OF instantaneous
photography. He OF the founders OF the
Philadelphia Photographic Society. and acted
American correspondent of The British Journal
OF Photography besides contributing largely
the subject to publications in this country
He took photographs by artificial light. early
as 1873, in OF lectures delivered before the
Franklin Institute. of Philadelphia, demonstrating
at the same time the act!nic properties of the in
visible ultraviolet rays of the spectrum
He retired from active interest in the business of
William Sellers G. Co, Inc, In 1886. and there
after devoted himself to private practice
consulting mechanical engineer. He at
invited become nonresident member OF the
faculty Of the Stevens Institute OF Technology in
Hoboken. and appointed TO the specially
established chair of engineering practice. receiv
ing, in 1887 the honorary degree of Doctor of En-
gineering from that institution.
Called upon, In 1882 by several capitalists to con-
slider the pract!cabity of generating electricity by
water power and of utilizing that of Niagara Falls
for the transmission of electrical power to Buffalo.
he reported favorably on the project and upon his
advice the enterprise was undertaken He repre-
sented America the international Niagara com
mission OF five members. with Lord Kelvin, then
Sir William Thompson. as chairman, which was
established In London IN 1890. and acted as en-
pineeriug head of the work. both consulting
engineer of the Cataract Construction Company
and as chief engineer of the Niagara Falls POWER
Company, serving also as chief mechanical en-
efneer of the Canadian Niagara Power Company.
He was a charter member and past president or the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers a mem
her of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the
Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.
the Institution of Mechanical Engineers of Great
Britain Institution of Civil Engineers of Great
Britain the Geneva Society of Arts. the Pennsyi-
vania Historical Society. the American Phlosophi-
cal Society bounded by Benjamin Franklin). the
Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania and the Penn
sylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art.
During Centennial Exposition in 1876 he served
as one Of the special judges for final settlement or
difficult or disputed questions of award King Oscar
OF Sweden and Norway decorated him with the
Royal Norwegian order of st. Olaf and in 1899 the
University of Pennsylvania conferred him the
honorary degree OF Doctor of Science.
DR. Sellers married, In 1851 Cornea, daughter Of
Horace Wells. of Cincinnati Two SONS. the elder
of whom Coleman Sellers IT.. succeeded his father
as chief engineer Of William Sellers & Co. Incor-
porated, and daughter were born to them.