Alexander Ephraim Brown was born on May 14, 1852 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio and was the son of Fayette Brown and his wife Cornelia Curtis. The father had a noteworthy part in Cleveland's industrial development as a banker, iron manufacturer, and owner of a fleet of ore boats. Alexander E. Brown was one of five children.
Alexander received his early education in the Cleveland public schools, completing the course at the old Central High School. In the autumn of 1869 he entered the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, New York, graduating in an engineering course in June 1872.
Immediately after graduation from the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute Alexander Brown joined the United States Geological Survey, and for six months was engaged in the exploration of the Yellowstone region. During the ensuing two years he was employed as chief engineer for the Massillon Iron Bridge Company of Massillon, Ohio, and from 1875 to 1878 was employed as an engineer in construction work and in superintending iron mines in the Lake Superior iron region.
During part of 1878 and 1879 he was in Cleveland, connected as a mechanical engineer with the Brush Electric Company, then known as the Telegraph Supply Company, a corporation developing the inventions of the founder, Charles F. Brush. During the year 1879 Alexander Brown made his most important invention, that of the Brown hoisting and conveying machine for handling coal and iron ore at the lake ports. In the following year patents were obtained, and the first Brown hoisting and conveying machine was set up on the ore docks in Cleveland.
The Brown Hoisting Machinery Company was organized to manufacture such machinery, with Brown's father as president and himself as vice-president and general manager. In 1910, upon the death of his father he became president, a position which he held until his own death. As a result of Brown's achievement, the construction of lake boats for transportation of bulky materials was revolutionized.
His son, Alexander C. Brown, succeeded his father as president of the Brown Hoisting Machinery Company.
The invention Alexander Brown designed was a cantilivered crane, rigged with wire cable to convey an automatic clamshell bucket to and from the ship's hold, removing the cargo. His hoist, first set up on the docks along Lake Erie, reduced lake transportation costs and greatly shortened the turn-around time of the vessels. Brown secured several hundred patents on his invention which was distributed all over the world. Brown was identified with many professional and social organizations. He was an engineer and inventor of great ability and versatility. Before his time the largest lake boats did not exceed 1, 200 tons capacity. He made the operation of such small craft unprofitable; lake boats of 8, 000, 10, 000, and even 12, 000 tons came into use. It became possible to unload a 12, 000-ton ore vessel in as many hours as it formerly took days to unload a 500-ton boat. Nearly fourscore patents in various fields are on record in Washington. He is also distinguished for organizing The Brown Hoisting Machinery Company which he was a head of serving as a president.
On November 14, 1877, Alexander Ephraim Brown was married to Carrie M. Barnett, the daughter of General James Barnett. Their son, Alexander C. Brown, succeeded his father as president of the Brown Hoisting Machinery Company.
1823–1910
1829–1899
1850–1923
1856–1921
1884–1940
1854–1936
1885–1964
1854–1891
1848–1923
