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Transactions of the Soc.of Mech. Engineers Hugo B. Roelker, who died in Port Orange, Fla., on April 18, 1921,
was born in Osnabruck, Germany, on September 19, 1843 (sic). After
obtaining his early education in a technical school, he served his
apprenticeship in a machine shop and later worked in the employ of
an instrument maker. He then became employed as mechanical draftsman
in an engineer's and architect's office. At the age of eighteen he
came to this country and after a year's experience with the language
and method of working, secured a position as draftsman with the DeLamater
Iron Works, New York City. He rose rapidly, becoming chief draftsman,
assistant superintendent and, in 1883, superintendent. Mr. Roelker enjoyed the acquaintance and confidence of many of the
leading engineers of the country in developing and supervising the
work which they had done at the DeLamater Iron Works. He saw several
vessels of the Monitor type built there, including the largest of
them, the Dictator. These works also fathered the screw propeller,
which Captain John Ericcson, the technical genius of the firm, brought
to this country. Many of the large industries of the day started
in Mr. Roelker's office, — sugar mills, air compressors, ice machines,
etc. The first self-propelled torpedoes, torpedo boats, destroyers
and submarine boats were all de |