Mexborough and Swinton Times, May 6th, 1932

Major Brass

President Of Institute Of Mining Engineers

Major John Brass, director and general manager of the Houghton Main Collieries Company Limited, was on Tuesday elected President of the Institution of Mining Engineers.

Born at Wingate, Co Durham, in 1879, Mr. Brass is the eldest son of Mr. T. F. Brass, of Sacristan, Durham. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle-on-Tyne and began his mining career in 1894 at the Sacristan Collieries under Colonel W. C. Blackett.

In 1903, he became manager of the Primrose Main Colliery, Barnsley. In 1923 he was elected President of the Midlands Institute of Mining Engineers, and was one of the British delegates to the Imperial Conference of Mining Engineers.