The Apprentice's Toolbox

On Apr 11, 7:55 am, "RST Engineering" wrote:
You sell too cheap, Bob. I've already made the arrangements that mine
will
be buried (or incinerated) along with me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I even wrote up an Instructor's Manual with a whole buncha photos
showing which parts of the box could be used to introduce hand-
squeezers, joggling, use of the brake, use of the lathe (for the
handles) and so forth. Zero interest.

All the guys I grew up with -- mostly pushing up daisys now -- always
gave kids rides and taught them useful stuff. Nowadays it seems
everyone is too busy charging a dollar for a dimes-worth of
information to care about what happens when those sources of free,
PRACTICAL information are no longer available to the nation's young.

Yep, most people have no idea how important it is to some of us to learn how
to make things, to learn what we did not know yesterday. To me, it is one
of the most important things in life.

March 20, a few weeks ago, I lost my mentor. My Dad. My friend. I am what
I am today, because of him.

His dad was a machinist, mostly self educated. My dad was the first of his
family to go to college and got an engineering degree, but his dad passed
many of his hands on skills along to him. My dad passed the skills along to
me.

From the time I was old enough to walk, when my dad was in the garage
working on something, I was at his side. I held lights, fetched tools,
cleaned parts, or whatever was needed. Dad always told people that half the
time, he would have to get me out of between his eyes and the work, so he
could continue working. I wanted to learn everything, and see everything,
and dad took the time to show me and teach me. For this, I am eternally
grateful.

I'm also doing my part, and have passed what I could along to my son.
Someday, he will have his great grandpa's tool box, and all of the other
goodies that dad and I have accumulated, too. I hope he passes them along,
and that they mean as much to him, as they have meant to me.

The other day, I needed to tap a hole, and went into grandpa's tool box (a
huge home-made rolling wooden tool box, drawers and all, that he pulled
around the factory to do his work. What a work of art that toolbox is. I
was looking for a tap handle. I found one. It was home made, and had my
grandpa's name stamped on it with a center punch, and the date he made it.
1911. It is now one of my most cherished possessions.

Losing my Dad was one of the toughest things I have ever gone through. His
absence leaves a big hole in my life. It is a little easier, remembering
all we did together, and knowing all I learned from him. I miss him, but am
grateful for the impact he had on my life.

R.I.P., Jack Morgan.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings. It felt good to tell everyone about
him.
--
Jim in NC

Sincere condolences, my friend.

cavelamb himself wrote:
Sincere condolences, my friend.

Agreed, and it's a shame many schools don't have shop class, that
parents don't have some practical skills to pass on etc. It's all "get a
higher education" and "go to college." Whatever happened to hands on in
childhood? My son and I used to drive my ex nuts because we'd get dirty
working on my car. He started very young playing with the hand tools.
I'm by no means an expert mechanic, but I can do most work on a car. My
son is the same way. The same with basic home repair. I'm afraid we are
becoming book smart and world dense.

Having said that, I do know people who are dangerous with anything
more complicated than a screw driver. Let them keep plumbers,
electricians, tow drivers etc employed.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

"Dan" wrote

Agreed, and it's a shame many schools don't have shop class, that
parents don't have some practical skills to pass on etc.

Strangley, that fits with my story. I went to college and got a music
education degree. After three years, I quit and started doing home repair
and remodeling, full time. Where did I learn to do that? You guessed it;
mostly from dad, and then the rest was self taught. Then, I worked up to
having my own contracting company building houses. When the economy went
tits up about 15 years ago, I took a job teaching shop, but specifically
home construction. All still traces back to dad.

It's all "get a higher education" and "go to college."

All kids will not go to college. Shame, but some people can't understand
that.

Having said that, I do know people who are dangerous with anything more
complicated than a screw driver. Let them keep plumbers, electricians, tow
drivers etc employed.

Yep. Keep those kids that did not go to college employed!
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
"Dan" wrote

Agreed, and it's a shame many schools don't have shop class, that
parents don't have some practical skills to pass on etc.

Strangley, that fits with my story. I went to college and got a music
education degree. After three years, I quit and started doing home repair
and remodeling, full time. Where did I learn to do that? You guessed it;
mostly from dad, and then the rest was self taught. Then, I worked up to
having my own contracting company building houses. When the economy went
tits up about 15 years ago, I took a job teaching shop, but specifically
home construction. All still traces back to dad.

It's all "get a higher education" and "go to college."

All kids will not go to college. Shame, but some people can't understand
that.

Having said that, I do know people who are dangerous with anything more
complicated than a screw driver. Let them keep plumbers, electricians, tow
drivers etc employed.

Yep. Keep those kids that did not go to college employed!

Lot to be said for trade schools. Pity is there don't seem to be many
at the high school level. Those who went to those seemed to have an
innate ability before attending and just needed topping off before
heading out into the real world.

Back in the 1980s the local votech here used to offer what they
called a "powder puff" automotive class to teach women basic care and
feeding of their cars. They had to rapidly change the name when they
realized a lot of men were taking it.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

I'm sorry for your loss; my dad passed away unexpectedly a couple years
ago.

All I can say, inadequate as it is, would be that whatever he taught you
will always be with you. The pain will ease over time, while the good
parts of the past will not.


In article ,
"Morgans" wrote:

On Apr 11, 7:55 am, "RST Engineering" wrote:
You sell too cheap, Bob. I've already made the arrangements that mine
will
be buried (or incinerated) along with me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

I even wrote up an Instructor's Manual with a whole buncha photos
showing which parts of the box could be used to introduce hand-
squeezers, joggling, use of the brake, use of the lathe (for the
handles) and so forth. Zero interest.

All the guys I grew up with -- mostly pushing up daisys now -- always
gave kids rides and taught them useful stuff. Nowadays it seems
everyone is too busy charging a dollar for a dimes-worth of
information to care about what happens when those sources of free,
PRACTICAL information are no longer available to the nation's young.

Yep, most people have no idea how important it is to some of us to learn how
to make things, to learn what we did not know yesterday. To me, it is one
of the most important things in life.

March 20, a few weeks ago, I lost my mentor. My Dad. My friend. I am what
I am today, because of him.

His dad was a machinist, mostly self educated. My dad was the first of his
family to go to college and got an engineering degree, but his dad passed
many of his hands on skills along to him. My dad passed the skills along to
me.

From the time I was old enough to walk, when my dad was in the garage
working on something, I was at his side. I held lights, fetched tools,
cleaned parts, or whatever was needed. Dad always told people that half the
time, he would have to get me out of between his eyes and the work, so he
could continue working. I wanted to learn everything, and see everything,
and dad took the time to show me and teach me. For this, I am eternally
grateful.

I'm also doing my part, and have passed what I could along to my son.
Someday, he will have his great grandpa's tool box, and all of the other
goodies that dad and I have accumulated, too. I hope he passes them along,
and that they mean as much to him, as they have meant to me.

The other day, I needed to tap a hole, and went into grandpa's tool box (a
huge home-made rolling wooden tool box, drawers and all, that he pulled
around the factory to do his work. What a work of art that toolbox is. I
was looking for a tap handle. I found one. It was home made, and had my
grandpa's name stamped on it with a center punch, and the date he made it.
1911. It is now one of my most cherished possessions.

Losing my Dad was one of the toughest things I have ever gone through. His
absence leaves a big hole in my life. It is a little easier, remembering
all we did together, and knowing all I learned from him. I miss him, but am
grateful for the impact he had on my life.

R.I.P., Jack Morgan.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings. It felt good to tell everyone about
him.

"Steve Hix" wrote

I'm sorry for your loss; my dad passed away unexpectedly a couple years
ago.

All I can say, inadequate as it is, would be that whatever he taught you
will always be with you. The pain will ease over time, while the good
parts of the past will not.

Thanks all, for your kind words.

The pain has indeed started to pass, and the good times are remembered, and
feel better to remember.
--
Jim in NC

Usually the first step in easing the greef is to get in out in the
open. Thanks for sharing your story.
Unfortunately my relationship with my dad was not quite that good.
John


On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:26:39 -0400, Morgans wrote:


"Steve Hix" wrote

I'm sorry for your loss; my dad passed away unexpectedly a couple years
ago.

All I can say, inadequate as it is, would be that whatever he taught you
will always be with you. The pain will ease over time, while the good
parts of the past will not.

Thanks all, for your kind words.

The pain has indeed started to pass, and the good times are remembered, and
feel better to remember.

My most sincere condolences.

I was slightly over 40 when my dad died, and this is somethng that we all go
through. Time helps, but not completely. That's probably a good thing
becasue not caring would be far worse.

Peter