Gas engineering, despite the lack of availability of formal qualifications, grew slowly in stature and respect up until 1860. The innovative use of gas for lighting both indoors and outdoors was perceived as a 'wonder of the age' and added to the general comfort of the growing population. However, there was a shortage of quality engineers to enable the hundreds of fledgling gas undertakings. This equated to one to almost every town and city in the country. It was a challenge for the industry to become firmly established, well managed correctly designed and respected by their shareholders and customers, who were naturally quick to criticise poor quality gas and poor pressures and leaking gas mains.
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