San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ALFRED W. ARCHER
The inventive genius of the Sterling
Iron Works of Stockton, Alfred W. Archer is its chief engineer, and his
determination to succeed in his chosen profession has brought him the merited
reward. A native of the Golden State, he
was born on Sherman Island, San Joaquin County, on September 16, 1877. His schooling consisted of a few years’
attendance in the Salem School of Lodi; then he took up the study of mechanical
engineering at home, and was fortunate to secure employment with the Holt
Manufacturing Company in their machine shop, where the opportunities were of
the best to make advancement along inventive and mechanical lines, his service
covering a period of three years.
Following his profession, he then traveled extensively throughout the
world; was employed, for a time, by the Fresno Agricultural Works, of Fresno,
California, and the Samson Iron Works of Stockton; then he worked for the
British South Africa Charter Company in Rhodesia, South Africa; then he spent
two years in various countries of Europe.
At the end of this time, he returned to California and became the master
mechanic for the largest lumber company on the coast, the Weed Lumber Company,
located at Weed, Siskiyou County, California.
About fourteen years ago he became associated with the Sterling Iron
Works of Stockton and has designed all the patents and products of this
company, among them being the famous Sterling turbine pump, which has since
become extensively used not only in California but throughout the entire
West. It took the skill and ability of a
genius to design and put on the market this intricate piece of machinery and to
Mr. Archer belongs the credit. William F. Barnicol
is the efficient manager of this company.
Twelve different styles of pumps are manufactured, all of which are
thoroughly tested before leaving the plant, which is equipped with a testing
laboratory, under the direct supervision of Mr. Archer. This company has installed many pumping
plants on ranches throughout the valley and commercial plants as well as there
are hundreds of them in use.
The marriage of Mr. Archer united
him with Miss Alice L. Stevens, a native of Red Bluff, California, and they are
the parents of two children, Elwood and Bettie Ann, both natives of Stockton,
California. Fraternally Mr. Archer is a
member of the Stockton Lodge of Elks. He
has never relaxed his diligence in the study of his chosen profession, always
keeping abreast of the times on things mechanical, and by his industry and
untiring energy he is acknowledged, by his business associates and residents
throughout the state, to be among the best-informed and most practical
engineers of northern California.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1268. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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