The term seems to have originated in the era of the 7A Rotary system exchange, and was superseded by "Technician" circa 1960, perhaps because "Mechanician" was no longer considered appropriate after the first Strowger switch exchanges began to be introduced in 1952 (in Auckland, at Birkenhead, New Zealand exchange).
Charles Étienne Louis Camus (25 August 1699 – 2 February 1768), was a French mathematician and mechanician who was born at Crécy-en-Brie, near Meaux.
Giordano Riccati was the son of the theoretical mechanician Jacopo Riccati.
Post politics Atkinson authored a book on Sir Joseph Whitworth (The World’s Best Mechanician, 1996) and a play (Old Merrypebbles).