“For when the last best words have been said for the machine it has no marvel comparable to the marvel of the human hand guided by the human mind.”
— The Woodworker, Chips from the Chisel, 1937, page 255
6 thoughts on “The Last Best Words for the Machines”
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Amen to that …
when things are made by hand they tend to show, they have a soul
Quite a few machines were utilized in the making of that tool. There is some handwork involved, sanding the knob and handle to the final polish for example, but it is far removed from the ye olde blacksmith/toolmaker vibe. When your L-N plane (with the accurate frog and flat sole) delivers nice crisp shavings, be sure to give a nod to the CNC and other machines used in its manufacture.
Tico,
I don’t think that quote is anti-machinery at all, nor was The Woodworker or Charles Hayward. And I’m not either.
I think it’s an interesting discussion. The machine is itself a product of “the human hand guided by the human mind.” There can be just as much subtle skill, knowledge, and attention required to make a machine work right, in some cases, as a hand tool (though by saying that I risk getting a hewn board thrown at me by Peter Follansbee at our next Hand Tool Event!). A veteran machinist I’ve been spending time around can do things on x y z axis while milling that are pretty amazing.
God made a Man, Man made a machine, but can a machine
make a Man.