Julian Balfour Beecroft
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 19 Mar 1908 - Whitby, Mariposa, Ontario, Canada
Christening:
Death: 20 Jan 2008 - Perth, Ontario, Canada
Burial: 26 Jan 2008 - Port Hope Union Cemetery, Port Hope, Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Obituary
Julian Beecroft• Obituary, http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/whitby/article/93039, 30 Jan 2008
BEECROFT, Julian Balfour
Passed away at Perth Community Care Centre/Tayview Nursing Home on January 20, 2008 in his 100th year. Youngest son of the late Frank L. Beecroft and Eva G. Armour of Whitby, Julian was predeceased by his older brother Eric A. Beecroft of London Ontario in 2003 and his eldest son Eric Edmund of England in 2004. He is survived by his children Jane Beecroft of Bancroft, Norma Beecroft Turner of Orono, Stuart Beecroft of Toronto and Carolyn Allan of Whitby as well as 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Mr. David Lee of Ottawa and Ms. Ella Lee of Whitby will also miss Julian as he was sponsor and surrogate father to them.
Born on March 19, 1908, Julian was schooled in Whitby and Toronto and became an extremely accomplished pianist by his early 20's, so much so that he received an invitation from George Gershwin to visit him in New York. This potentially great career ended tragically in a woodworking accident in which he lost 3 fingers. Extremely creative, he turned to manufacturing \endash first to boat building, photography equipment and furniture making, then to metal machining. He even built and operated the world's first wire and tape voice recorders in the late 1920s but failed to patent them in time. The Second World War saw him managing large machine shops in Barrie and Collingwood making many parts for the Mosquito fighter/bomber.
In 1931, he married Eleanor Norton of Toronto with whom he had 5 children. By 1947, the marriage collapsed and he returned to his father's home in Whitby where he set up a machine shop of his own. It was here that he gained the reputation of an exceptional designer, machinist and problem solver. He designed and built devices, control systems and manufacturing processes for GE Plastics, Wayne Pump Company, Ford Motor Company, Montreal Star, Andrew Antenna, NutriProducts, Pal-O-Pak Industries, and many others. He secured several patents on hydraulic control systems, one of which was used in the assembly of the ill-fated Avro Arrow.
In 1978, he relocated to Port Hope where he managed operations in the old Nicholson File Building. By 1984, he had moved to his property near Sharbot Lake where he lived until deteriorating health and encroaching blindness took him to the Perth Community Care Centre in Perth in 2005. Julian, a remarkable teacher, will be remembered for his amazing talent for "thinking outside the box" \endash able to solve almost any problem and devise methods for building anything, seldom charging enough to cover his costs. A gentle, thoughtful man, he was always generous with his time and willing to help anyone in need.
The family wishes to thank the staff of the Tayview Nursing Home in Perth for their gracious care of Julian in the last 3 years.
Friends will be received at the Allison Funeral Home, 103 Mill Street North, Port Hope on Saturday January 26, 2008 from 10 am until time of Funeral Service at 11 am. Interment, Port Hope Union Cemetery. If desired, memorial contributions may be made by cheque to the C.N.I.B. www.allisonfuneralhome.com
Inventor Julian Beecroft dies at 99• Obituary, oshawathisweek.com/news/whitby/article/93039, 30 Jan 2008
Wed Jan 30, 2008
WHITBY -- The man who built the first tape voice recorder will not only be remembered for his inventions but also his strong character.
Julian Beecroft passed away Jan. 20 at the age of 99.
Mr. Beecroft attended school in Whitby as a boy before moving to Toronto. He was a talented pianist in his 20s, but a future in music ended when he lost three of his fingers in a woodworking accident.
After the accident, Mr. Beecroft became a manufacturer, constructing boats, furniture and photography equipment, then designing and building devices for Ford and other companies.
While in his 20s Mr. Beecroft manufactured the first tape recorders, but didn't patent them in time, leaving him without official credit for his invention.
"Julian was a brilliant pianist despite the loss of three fingers," said Evelyn Heaver, whose late husband, Bert, was friends with Mr. Beecroft. "He owned two most beautiful grand pianos and without a second thought had them shipped to the locations for the benefit of my husband's musical concerts, at no charge."
In 1931 Mr. Beecroft married Eleanor Norton of Toronto and the couple had five children. The marriage lasted until 1947 and after the couple divorced Mr. Beecroft moved back to Whitby into his father's home at Pine and Mary streets. It was demolished in 1976 and replaced with apartments.
"He was a most unusual and brilliant person and a touch eccentric," Ms. Heaver said. "This only endeared him to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him."
In 1978 Mr. Beecroft moved to Port Perry, later living near Sharbot Lake. In 2005 he moved to Perth, where he lived his final years.
But friends say he will always be remembered for his considerate demeanour.
"Julian was a man who was not only a true gentleman but a truly gentle man," said friend and former co-worker Charles Rycroft.
Inventor Julian Beecroft dies at 99• Obituary, Toronto Star, 23 Jan 2008
WHITBY -- The man who built the first tape voice recorder will not only be remembered for his inventions but also his strong character.
Julian Beecroft passed away Jan. 20 at the age of 99.
Mr. Beecroft attended school in Whitby as a boy before moving to Toronto. He was a talented pianist in his 20s, but a future in music ended when he lost three of his fingers in a woodworking accident.
After the accident, Mr. Beecroft became a manufacturer, constructing boats, furniture and photography equipment, then designing and building devices for Ford and other companies.
While in his 20s Mr. Beecroft manufactured the first tape recorders, but didn't patent them in time, leaving him without official credit for his invention.
"Julian was a brilliant pianist despite the loss of three fingers," said Evelyn Heaver, whose late husband, Bert, was friends with Mr. Beecroft. "He owned two most beautiful grand pianos and without a second thought had them shipped to the locations for the benefit of my husband's musical concerts, at no charge."
In 1931 Mr. Beecroft married Eleanor Norton of Toronto and the couple had five children. The marriage lasted until 1947 and after the couple divorced Mr. Beecroft moved back to Whitby into his father's home at Pine and Mary streets. It was demolished in 1976 and replaced with apartments.
"He was a most unusual and brilliant person and a touch eccentric," Ms. Heaver said. "This only endeared him to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him."
In 1978 Mr. Beecroft moved to Port Perry, later living near Sharbot Lake. In 2005 he moved to Perth, where he lived his final years.
But friends say he will always be remembered for his considerate demeanour.
"Julian was a man who was not only a true gentleman but a truly gentle man," said friend and former co-worker Charles Rycroft.
Julian Beecroft
BEECROFT, Julian Balfour Passed away at Perth Community Care Centre/Tayview Nursing Home on January 20, 2008 in his 100th year. Youngest son of the late Frank L. Beecroft and Eva G. Armour of Whitby. Julian was predeceased by his older brother Eric A. Beecroft of London, Ontario in 2003 and his eldest son Eric Edmund of England in 2004. He is survived by his children Jane Beecroft of Bancroft, Norma Beecroft Turner of Orono, Stuart Beecroft of Toronto and Carolyn Allan of Whitby as well as 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Mr. David Lee of Ottawa and Ms. Ella Lee of Whitby will also miss Julian as he was sponsor and surrogate father to them. Born on March 19, 1908, Julian was schooled in Whitby and Toronto and became an extremely accomplished pianist by his early 20's, so much so that he received an invitation from George Gershwin to visit him in New York. This potentially great career ended tragically in a woodworking accident in which he lost 3 fingers. Extremely creative, he turned to manufacturing - first to boat building, photography equipment and furniture making, then to metal machining. He even built and operated the world's first wire and tape voice recorders in the late 1920s but failed to patent them in time. The Second World War saw him managing large machine shops in Barrie and Collingwood making many parts for the Mosquito fighter/bomber. In 1931, he married Eleanor Norton of Toronto with whom he had 5 children. By 1947, the marriage collapsed and he returned to his father's home in Whitby where he set up a machine shop of his own. It was here that he gained the reputation of an exceptional designer, machinist and problem solver. He designed and built devices, control systems and manufacturing processes for GE Plastics, Wayne Pump Company, Ford Motor Company, Montreal Star, Andrew Antenna, NutriProducts, Pal-O-Pak Industries, and many others. He secured several patents on hydraulic control systems, one of which was used in the assembly of the ill-fated Avro Arrow. In 1978, he relocated to Port Hope where he managed operations in the old Nicholson File Building. By 1984, he had moved to his property near Sharbot Lake where he lived until deteriorating health and encroaching blindness took him to the Perth Community Care Centre in Perth in 2005. Julian, a remarkable teacher, will be remembered for his amazing talent for 'thinking outside the box' - able to solve almost any problem and devise methods for building anything, seldom charging enough to cover his costs. A gentle, thoughtful man, he was always generous with his time and willing to help anyone in need. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Tayview Nursing Home in Perth for their gracious care of Julian in the last 3 years. Friends will be received at the Allison Funeral Home, 103 Mill Street North, Port Hope on Saturday, January 26, 2008 from 10 a.m. until time of Funeral Service at 11 a.m. Interment, Port Hope Union Cemetery. If desired, memorial contributons may be made by cheque to the C.N.I.B. www.allisonfuneralhome.com
Published in the Toronto Star from January 23 to February 22, 2008
Parents
Father: Frank Lloyd Beecroft
Mother: Eva Gertrude Armour
Spouses and Children
1. *Eleanor Stewart Norton
Marriage: 1931 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Status: Divorced - 1947
Children:
1. Jane Beecroft
2. Norma Marian Beecroft
3. Eric Edmund Beecroft
4. Charles Andrew Stuart Beecroft
5. Carolyn Beecroft
Notes
General:
According to the Toronto Star of January 23, 2008, Julian Balfour Beecroft (1908-2008) was schooled in Toronto and was an extremely accomplished pianist who received an invitation from George Gershwin to visit him in New York. Unfortunately Julian's piano career ended tragically in a woodworking accident in which he lost three fingers. Julian turned his creativity to boat building, photography equipment, furniture making and then metal machining. He built and operated the first wire and tape voice recorders in the late 1920s but failed to patent them in time.