Shop Truths, Phrases, Tales; and Outright Lies

[Toolmaker51]

This post is a work in progress. It fits nicely within parameters, described by title "Shop Truths, Phrases, Tales; and Outright Lies", and reinforced by comments of it's various contributors.

So, first the setup:
I don't have a particular attraction to cable TV "How It's Made". Always disappointed that how it's made turns out more to be "How It's Assembled". I'm sure a large audience more interested in the real tooling behind "How It's Made" items. Applies equally to one-off customs or mass produced. But tonight's feature was US Navy Littoral Combat Vessels...Yeah, I'm an old Navy guy, yet the interest wasn't locked in by the ships. Presentation illustrated importance of aluminum, to commercial aircraft. The vessel concept success needs reduced draft and other weight savings.
Well, the aluminum was highlighted by a very special plane Douglas DC-3 Flagship St. Louis NC21745. I swear, photo of that plane caused me to choke up, and welling in my eyes. Immediately. And my next reaction, that aircraft was born and built without computers, CAD drawings, online catalogs and many of the other 'requirements' of today. There are examples still flying today, some more than eighty years old.

https://dc3dakotahistory.org/dc3-dak...ican-airlines/

Later in same show, they followed design and construction of a electric motored hotwalker for horses.
That 'designer' started right off in CAD...a merry-go-round for horses.

[PJs]

Nice couple of rabbit holes, TM51! The DC3 article was dear to my heart as my uncle worked for them in Long Beach for a Long time...35-40 years and I've been on one flight in one at an air show and in many of them at air shows...does kind of make you well up. I remember the smell...a real olfactory experience I got back when I read the article.

Yup, we've come a long way since pencil and velum and made leaps and bounds with every step. If you want a mind rattling rabbit hole take a look at software for designing ASIC chips and what they are capable of doing with them. And yet every idea starts in the head and sometimes built on the fly and last just as long, or Longer (think pyramids or Parthenon).

The show is Ok for a lunch time recess to me but they don't say much, only light a candle once in a while.

PJ

[Toolmaker51]

Original text says it all;

[Frank S]

Rather than to further hijack another thread I think this post is more fitting here.
It is a story of my inflamed gallbladder when I was about 19 years old. I was stationed at the 52nd MP Battalion at FT. Sam Houston. I was working in the Motor Pool under the guise of being a mechanic. Well the word mechanic was probably true. I had even done and early reenlistment to get the assignment. Mostly because I had grown weary of constantly attending one advanced training course after another and wanted a break. I felt that nearly 2 solid years of continuous never ending training courses was enough.
Things were going along smoothly in the motor pool we had only 1 tactical vehicle several sedans 3 motorcycles and of course the Provost Marshal a bird col. had his personal helicopter and early Korean war vintage bell 47D1 Which hadn't been flown in 10 years, but that would be another story.
One night while on night dispatch duty I suddenly was struck with a severe stomach pain or so I thought. I called the PMO and requested a patrol to swing by the motor pool. By the time a unit arrived I was doubled up on the floor in pain. One of them helped me to the sedan while the other stayed at the motor pool until a relief dispatcher could arrive. Code to Brook Army Medical center emergency room took less than 2 minutes, but the pain was subsiding by the time we arrived so I walked in on my own and the Staff sgt left to resume his patrol. Short story long, long story short I spent the night there under observation and endured an endless amount of testing and prodding needles stuck in my arms supplied body fluids under went x rays with only moderate regard for possible sterility protection must have been enough 2nd child born 3 years later.
Next morning released, placed on a bland potato soup type diet. On the mostly liquid diet for a week taking their meds I think were nothing but placebo but no proof. Pain not going away just barely tolerable enough to function in a highly limited duty level. Working days at the motor pool since the motor sgt and a couple others were there so not working alone incase another spasm. A call comes in from the PMO MTR sgt. tells me to report to the Provost Marshal post haste, no explanation. GO in and report as ordered the Col says you can drop that Specialist four crap Mister S. you forget I've seen your 201. This just arrived, tapping a folder on his desk, before I send it to the company commander I wanted to know if you are up for what is inside given your gall bladder incident last week. Oh be at ease and have a seat.
I'm up for it Sir.
How do you know you don't even know what is in the folder?
Unless I miss my guess it will be orders to some special TDY training course as per usual with the plans the Army has for me for what ever reason.
OK so you are suddenly clairvoyant are you?
No Sir just simple deduction What else would a folder specifically addressed to me be doing on your desk and not on the company commander's desk be about, if it weren't something that requires your recommendation as well as approval before it is forwarded to the company clerk or the 1st sgt.
Just then he got a phone call and had to dismiss me saying he would forward the folder to the company clerk for me to get my kit in order and pack my gear.
I Still didn't know what was in the folder or where I was being sent but I knew where ever it was I didn't need a pain in the lower gut stopping me so I rode the Motorcycle back to the motor pool but stopped along the way where a gut truck was selling snacks I bought a dozen jalapeno peppers a bag of chips and a canned coke. KILL or Cure was my thinking.
I've never had another pain or spasm in my abdomen in all of these years and absolutely consider the hotter the pepper the more it does for your body to prevent or possibly even cure gastrointestinal problems. I went TDY about 2 weeks later for 3 months To Aberdeen Proving grounds Md. and about a year later was sent to Germany where I remained for over 3 years but before going there I must have gone TDY 2 dozen times sometimes as few as 3 days some times a couple of weeks. all of these were very long flights of 6 to 14 hours once over 18 hours but we won't disclose those destinations publicly.
The above story is true only the wording of the conversations may have altered over the years

[Toolmaker51]

Not once; ever seen proper recognition in anyone's place of employment. This would be nice to see, walking in every morning.

[Toolmaker51]

Some of us imagine how we got 'here'.
Better yet, to recall how you started.
Improving on that, knowing where you want to end up. . .


AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame | Burt Munro

Timing official, remarking how Burt pulls away already at 90mph "when you opened her up in top gear, you sure left us in the dust. . ."

[Toolmaker51]

In a roundabout [sort of slant drilling into a rabbit hole] search, I found a comment on this youtube video. Appears 'we' are on the same page.
But this video will be enjoyed by any who feel "How It's Made" hardly tells the story. It's 29 minutes of cast iron porn.

BTW, the best comment is "Who needs industry when you can have call centres!" closely illustrates observations in a large percentage of responses to the video. The lamentations sound particularly British.
Pleases me no end; believing a community exists that Quality, good Design, carefully specified Materials, and proper Fitting justify Cost; which show in subsequent reselling, willingly pay extra for the honor.

[Frank S]

In a roundabout [sort of slant drilling into a rabbit hole] search, I found a comment on this youtube video. Appears 'we' are on the same page.
But this video will be enjoyed by any who feel "How It's Made" hardly tells the story. It's 29 minutes of cast iron porn.

BTW, the best comment is "Who needs industry when you can have call centres!" closely illustrates observations in a large percentage of responses to the video. The lamentations sound particularly British.
Pleases me no end; believing a community exists that Quality, good Design, carefully specified Materials, and proper Fitting justify Cost; which show in subsequent reselling, willingly pay extra for the honor.

Woa I need a whole pack of cigarettes after watching that video.

[Frank S]

While we are on the subject of English words and sayings
have a look at this Pare of the reason why so many of us are misunderstood is our words have too many meanings depending on how they are pronounced but pronunciation is difficult to portray in type. Many words in other languages have gender assignments to them depending on how they are vocalized or accented as they are spoken as well

Click to make larger

[Toolmaker51]

I've stolen my previous offer about the Colchester Lathe Plant.
This time it's how every 55 minutes, over a million components exit the Ford Willow Run Plant as a Consolidated-Vultee B-24 Liberator. So most of the post remains true. And as I continue wandering for such treasures, they'll find their way here.

In a roundabout [sort of slant drilling into a rabbit hole] search, I found a comment on this youtube video. Appears 'we' are on the same page.
But this video will be enjoyed by any who feel "How It's Made" hardly tells the story. It's 33 minutes of aluminum porn.