Alfred Thomas Serrell (1873-1946) spent his early career working as an machinist and electrician for the New York Central Railroad. He was much celebrated in his home town of Yonkers as an electrical genius. He was a frequent contributor to newspapers and magazine on all things electrical, especially automobiles, and taught classes at the local trades school.
Serrell was one of the many young men captivated by wireless telegraphy (radio) at the dawn of the 20th century and designed and built his own home receiver. He also developed a "pocket" wireless (crystal radio?) that could be used in the backyard or aboard a ship. (Yonkers Statesman 8.17.1910) Among his many inventions were a machine for making nails and a trolley wheel that reduced dewirements at corners and a box-folding machine. (ibid.) In 1916 he announced a new fast-working pipe-cutting machine. (Yonkers Statesman 1.31.1916) The only official patent Serrell received was in 1914 (US # 1,117,453) for a calibrated cutting apparatus designed to carve one to five-pound pie-shaped slices from blocks of butter or cheese. Inventions were second nature in his family--his grandfather and namesake Alfred T. Serrell (1818-1903) invented the first wood molding machine. (See memorial # 244985061)
When WWI started Serrell "invented" a sea bomb (mine) that would chase and attach itself to ships using an electromagnet. (Yonkers Statesman 4.03.1917) He was one of the first inventors to join the Association of Practical Inventors of America formed by Timothy D. Gleason in Feb. 1917 to support the war, and in Dec. 1917 Serrell organized his own Yonkers Company of Engineers to provide engineering support to his hometown in the event of an war-time emergency. (Yonkers Statesman 12.17.1917)
Serrell retired from the NY Edison Co. in 1941 after 25 years of service. He was married 2X and had one son.
Serrell was one of the many young men captivated by wireless telegraphy (radio) at the dawn of the 20th century and designed and built his own home receiver. He also developed a "pocket" wireless (crystal radio?) that could be used in the backyard or aboard a ship. (Yonkers Statesman 8.17.1910) Among his many inventions were a machine for making nails and a trolley wheel that reduced dewirements at corners and a box-folding machine. (ibid.) In 1916 he announced a new fast-working pipe-cutting machine. (Yonkers Statesman 1.31.1916) The only official patent Serrell received was in 1914 (US # 1,117,453) for a calibrated cutting apparatus designed to carve one to five-pound pie-shaped slices from blocks of butter or cheese. Inventions were second nature in his family--his grandfather and namesake Alfred T. Serrell (1818-1903) invented the first wood molding machine. (See memorial # 244985061)
When WWI started Serrell "invented" a sea bomb (mine) that would chase and attach itself to ships using an electromagnet. (Yonkers Statesman 4.03.1917) He was one of the first inventors to join the Association of Practical Inventors of America formed by Timothy D. Gleason in Feb. 1917 to support the war, and in Dec. 1917 Serrell organized his own Yonkers Company of Engineers to provide engineering support to his hometown in the event of an war-time emergency. (Yonkers Statesman 12.17.1917)
Serrell retired from the NY Edison Co. in 1941 after 25 years of service. He was married 2X and had one son.
Alfred Thomas Serrell (1873-1946) spent his early career working as an machinist and electrician for the New York Central Railroad. He was much celebrated in his home town of Yonkers as an electrical genius. He was a frequent contributor to newspapers and magazine on all things electrical, especially automobiles, and taught classes at the local trades school.
Serrell was one of the many young men captivated by wireless telegraphy (radio) at the dawn of the 20th century and designed and built his own home receiver. He also developed a "pocket" wireless (crystal radio?) that could be used in the backyard or aboard a ship. (Yonkers Statesman 8.17.1910) Among his many inventions were a machine for making nails and a trolley wheel that reduced dewirements at corners and a box-folding machine. (ibid.) In 1916 he announced a new fast-working pipe-cutting machine. (Yonkers Statesman 1.31.1916) The only official patent Serrell received was in 1914 (US # 1,117,453) for a calibrated cutting apparatus designed to carve one to five-pound pie-shaped slices from blocks of butter or cheese. Inventions were second nature in his family--his grandfather and namesake Alfred T. Serrell (1818-1903) invented the first wood molding machine. (See memorial # 244985061)
When WWI started Serrell "invented" a sea bomb (mine) that would chase and attach itself to ships using an electromagnet. (Yonkers Statesman 4.03.1917) He was one of the first inventors to join the Association of Practical Inventors of America formed by Timothy D. Gleason in Feb. 1917 to support the war, and in Dec. 1917 Serrell organized his own Yonkers Company of Engineers to provide engineering support to his hometown in the event of an war-time emergency. (Yonkers Statesman 12.17.1917)
Serrell retired from the NY Edison Co. in 1941 after 25 years of service. He was married 2X and had one son.
Serrell was one of the many young men captivated by wireless telegraphy (radio) at the dawn of the 20th century and designed and built his own home receiver. He also developed a "pocket" wireless (crystal radio?) that could be used in the backyard or aboard a ship. (Yonkers Statesman 8.17.1910) Among his many inventions were a machine for making nails and a trolley wheel that reduced dewirements at corners and a box-folding machine. (ibid.) In 1916 he announced a new fast-working pipe-cutting machine. (Yonkers Statesman 1.31.1916) The only official patent Serrell received was in 1914 (US # 1,117,453) for a calibrated cutting apparatus designed to carve one to five-pound pie-shaped slices from blocks of butter or cheese. Inventions were second nature in his family--his grandfather and namesake Alfred T. Serrell (1818-1903) invented the first wood molding machine. (See memorial # 244985061)
When WWI started Serrell "invented" a sea bomb (mine) that would chase and attach itself to ships using an electromagnet. (Yonkers Statesman 4.03.1917) He was one of the first inventors to join the Association of Practical Inventors of America formed by Timothy D. Gleason in Feb. 1917 to support the war, and in Dec. 1917 Serrell organized his own Yonkers Company of Engineers to provide engineering support to his hometown in the event of an war-time emergency. (Yonkers Statesman 12.17.1917)
Serrell retired from the NY Edison Co. in 1941 after 25 years of service. He was married 2X and had one son.
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