Lost Art Press

Category: Historical Images

Passing of the All-Round Mechanic

Posted on by fitz

mechanic_bench

When thinking of the modern wood-working establishment, with its finely-drawn divisions and subdivisions of all the different operations in the hands of experts and specialists, it is with a feeling of regret that we see the old-fashioned all-round mechanic being gradually crowded into the background, with the prospect that sooner or later his type will become extinct.

Not so many years ago the skilled workman was an indispensable factor in every wood-working shop. He was a combination of cabinetmaker, carpenter and machineman who could make a complete door or window or a piece of furniture from the raw material, with no other assistance but his own skill. He could lay out his work, match, joint and lay his own veneer, knew all about the properties of glue, the nature of the various kinds of wood and their adaptability for different purposes, besides a thousand other shop kinks, acquired by years of practical experience.

It used to be a source of real pleasure to watch such workman handle his tools when building up, piece by piece, some intricate design of artistic woodwork, and the evident satisfaction he derived from viewing the work of his own hands, showed the earmarks of the artist. On account of his ability and wide range of usefulness, he was looked up to by his shopmates, and his work called forth the admiration of everybody.
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Apprenticeship and Handicraft

Posted on by fitz

postcard_g

The man who designs and makes a good chair, or other useful article of any kind—all the more if it be beautiful as well as useful—is second only in the respectability of his occupation to him who brings grain and grass out of otherwise barren ground.

It is a very mistaken notion of the relations of things that sets trading—that is, buying and selling—a very different matter from commerce, which is the bringing of the products of one country into another—above handicraft. But handicraft seems to be falling into neglect.

The number of artisans who thoroughly understand their craft, and take a pride in doing good work, seems to be diminishing at a rate which is perceptible from one five years’ end to another. Indeed, it is notorious among all those who have occasion from time to time to employ skilled labour, that if they need the services of, let us say, a carpenter, a cabinet-maker, a watchmaker, or a painter, they cannot be sure, without some troublesome inquiry, that the work will be done in a workmanlike manner.

This uncertainty has no reference to that skill and taste which are the personal attributes of the individual workman, and give one man a reputation which another can never attain, but to that knowledge and skill, at once elementary and complete, which is possessed by every artisan who has “learned his trade.”
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Resaws

Posted on by fitz

rip_sawing

It is easier to criticize than to create.

Courtesy costs little and buys much.

Confidence is the companion of success.

Many a man shortens his days by lengthening his nights.

To be successful, you must plan the start as well as the finish.

The devil tempts all men, but the idle man tempts the devil.

If you resent authority, you stand a small chance of assuming it.

Inspiration is more liable to strike a busy man than an idle one.

Failure is not the worst thing in the world; the very worst is not to try.

It is a little farther around the corners of a square deal, but the road is better.

A bold front is a good thing only when anchored to a stiff backbone.

Bad luck ruins one man in a hundred, good luck ruins the other ninety-nine.

The man of good judgment is like a pin, his head prevents his going too far.

The man who thinks ahead of his work is a sure winner over the one who works ahead of his think.

True efficiency will come only to the man whose heart is in his work, and will never come with discontent.

Herman F. Rusch – Director of Manual Training, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Shop Work – 1918

– Jeff Burks

Why He Didn’t Buy a Saw

Posted on by fitz

saw_salesWhen the man with the red mustache started down the stairs his wife ran to the door and called him back.

“Donald,” she said, “I want you to go into a hardware store to-day and get a saw. Don’t forget it, please. We need one badly.”

Being an accommodating person, the man with the red mustache said he’d get it. He chose the luncheon hour as the most opportune time for making his simple purchase. He was in a good humor and he smiled blandly when he went bustling into the store and said: “I want a saw, please.”

The clerk who had come forward to wait on him had a merry twinkle in his eye and the twinkle overflowed at the question and spread all over his face in dimples.

“What kind of a saw?” he asked.

The prospective purchaser began to perceive what an intricate business the buying of a saw really is.

“Why,” said he, “I don’t know. Just a saw. Any kind will do, I suppose.”

The clerk sighed. “If you only knew what you want to use it for, perhaps I could advise you,” he suggested.
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David Maydole – Hammer Maker

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Maydole

When a young man begins to think of making his fortune, his first notion usually is to go away from home to some very distant place. At present, the favorite spot is Colorado; awhile ago it was California; and old men remember when Buffalo was about as far west as the most enterprising person thought of venturing.

It is not always a foolish thing to go out into the world far beyond the parent nest, as the young birds do in midsummer. But I can tell you, boys, from actual inquiry, that a great number of the most important and famous business men of the United States struck down roots where they were first planted, and where no one supposed there was room or chance for any large thing to grow.

I will tell you a story of one of these men, as I heard it from his own lips some time ago, in a beautiful village where I lectured. He was an old man then; and a curious thing about him was that, although he was too deaf to hear one word of a public address, even of the loudest speaker, he not only attended church every Sunday, but was rarely absent when a lecture was delivered.

While I was performing on that occasion, I saw him sitting just in front of the platform, sleeping the sleep of the just till the last word was uttered. Upon being introduced to this old gentleman in his office, and learning that his business was to make hammers, I was at a loss for a subject of conversation, as it never occurred to me that there was anything to be said about hammers.

I have generally possessed a hammer, and frequently inflicted damage on my fingers therewith, but I had supposed that a hammer was simply a hammer, and that hammers were very much alike. At last I said,—

     “And here you make hammers for mankind, Mr. Maydole?”

You may have noticed the name of David Maydole upon hammers. He is the man.

     “Yes,” said he, “I have made hammers here for twenty-eight years.”

     “Well, then,” said I, shouting in his best ear, ” by this time you ought to be able to make a pretty good hammer.”

     “No, I can’t,” was his reply. “I can’t make a pretty good hammer. I make the best hammer that’s made.” That was strong language. I thought, at first, he meant it as a joke; but I soon found it was no joke at all.
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