388 OBITUARY. 



the employ of Wm. Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Company, continuing with this 

 firm until his death April 21, 1921. Mr. Norman had been a member of the Society since 

 1900. 



FLORAINE JOSEPH RENZ 



MEMBER 



Mr. Renz was born January 22, 1874, in New Haven, Conn. After finishing a course 

 in the public and high schools of that city, he entered the marine field, being connected with 

 J. Rosenfeld & Sons for several years. He later became sales manager to Briggs Bitumin- 

 ous Composition Company and sales agent for the Federal Composition Company. ' He was 

 a member of Whitehall and Traffic Clubs and an Associate Member of the Society since 

 1917. He died December 23, 1921, leaving a wife and one daughter. 



HUGO BERNARD ROELKER 



MEMBER 



Mr. Roelker was born in Osnabruck, Germany, September 19, 1843. After obtaining 

 his early education in a technical school, he served an apprenticeship in a machine shop and 

 later worked in the employ of an instrument maker. He later was engaged as mechanical 

 draughtsman in an engineer's and architect's office. At the age of eighteen he came to this 

 country and after a year's experience in getting acquainted with the language and methods 

 of working, in 1861 he secured a position as draughtsman in the DeLamater Iron Works at 

 13th Street and North River, New York City. He rose rapidly to become respectively, chief 

 draughtsman, assistant superintendent, and in 1883 became superintendent. 



The DeLamater works were the largest general machine and repair shops in the coun- 

 try. The technical genius of the works was Captain John Ericsson and practically all the 

 leading engineers of the country had their work done there, and Mr. Roelker enjoyed their 

 acquaintance and confidence in developing and supervising their work. He saw several ves- 

 sels of the Monitor type built there, including the largest of them, the Dictator. In 1869 

 thirty gunboats were equipped there complete for the Spanish government to suppress the in- 

 surrection in Cuba. Marine engines for many coastwise and river vessels were built there 

 and stationary engines for large industrial plants. 



These works fathered the screw propeller which Captain Ericsson brought to this coun- 

 try and for years turned out more propeller wheels than all other marine shops in the coun- 

 try together. The method of sweeping these wheels in loam moulds was originated there. 

 Many of the large industries of the day started there in Mr. Roelker's officer— notably sugar 

 mills, air compressors, ice machines, hot air pumping engines. The preliminary experimen- 

 tation for the elevated roads was carried on there. 



