Francis Thomas Ford
Francis Thomas Ford (1877–1946) was an English engineer and inventor who established a successful welding and engineering firm in Cardiff, Wales. Early life. Frances Thomas Ford was born in Stapleton, Bristol on 4 March 1877. In the 1901 UK census he was living in Norwich and working as a cycle mechanic. Later he moved to Cardiff and he established a welding and engineering enterprise, the Ford Welding and Engineering Company locally. It was through these later endeavours that he received a certain amount of recognition and local acclaim. Working life. Once in Cardiff he set up the  Ford Welding & Engineering Co. Ltd, located in the Tunnel Works where the Glamorganshire canal emerged from the tunnel under Queen Street. The works later moved to Forwell Works at 149 North Road Cardiff next to the weighbridge on Parkfield Place about 1950. Over a period of 20 years Francis patented a number of inventions under The Forwell trade mark. He also worked as an Instructor in Oxy-Acetylene Welding at Cardiff Technical College and was also a keen Photographer. Patents. A number of patents are associated with Francis Ford, including: Photography. He took photographs of all the machines and equipment  he purchased for the Ford Welding and Engineering Company and kept records of purchase prices. He was a keen member of the Cardiff Photographic Club and took part in many competitions. One of his favourite photos which he entered into a competition was called 'The Elusive Tiddler' and showed a group of children trying to catch a fish on the bank of the Glamorganshire Canal in 1936.