He then joined Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon Ltd, water turbine manufacturers, as managing director, in his home town of Kendal.
He served the Second World War of 1939–1945 with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, most of that time being spent at sea in capital ships.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and retired as a temporary Lieutenant-Commander, to return to Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon.
[1] In 1950 and 1951, he stood as Labour Party General Election candidate for his home constituency of Westmorland but lost on both occasions.
A member of the Advisory Council of the Science Museum, 1968–1972 and 1973–1978, he was also Chairman of the Fund for the Preservation of Technological and Scientific Material, 1973–1978.