Vintage work crew photos

**PJs** · Nov 21, 2018, 03:00 PM

Outstanding find Jon! Fitting on all counts...I went through them all on the LoC site. Looks like a lot of them were scanned 1900ppi. I'll have a look at one of the 100mb tiffs I liked!

**marksbug** · Nov 21, 2018, 03:23 PM

crack that whip!!every min counts...... my grand parents ran a pencil factory in cali(oravillaI think) mom worked there when she was in HS .everybody had quotas, noisey as hell, you made extra $$ for going over your quota, but they had to be full boxes. so you made a box or 2 more short then a box short a few for the next day to ensure a good day....

**PJs** · Nov 24, 2018, 12:35 PM

Nice old photos for the Muskgrave Pencil Company in Shelbyville TN. This was on google images not sure I should post but like the image.

WWII vintage

Vintage work crew photos-muskgrave_pencil_company_wwii.jpg

~PJ

**Toolmaker51** · Nov 24, 2018, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by PJs

Nice old photos for the Muskgrave Pencil Company in Shelbyville TN. This was on google images not sure I should post but like the image.

WWII vintage

Click image for larger version.

Name: Muskgrave_Pencil_Company_WWII.jpg
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ID: 26528

~PJ

TOO LATE; I HIT IT RIGHT AWAY. Pictures are good, but for me real impact is essay by what is likely a Musgrave descendant, definitely not some takeover hooligan. The original proprietor saw opportunity and seized them, or suspended old work for a long lived company. That should guarantee protection from 2nd rate imports.

**Beserkleyboy** · Nov 24, 2018, 06:21 PM

...I'm an old pencil tragic...Dixon Ticonderoga for me. #s 2,2.5, and 3 do the trick. First got into them writing triplicate carbon invoices (remember those?) in the family timber yard in Calif in the 60's. Now I have to order online and pay stupid postage...and the Mexican build quality is a bit hit and miss these days, leads not concentric to outer makes for an unbalanced point. Just the other week, the grandson (12) asked me, 'Grampy, how come you use so many pencils?'...I sent him home with a few and a sharpener..cheers guys

Jim

**hemmjo** · Nov 25, 2018, 04:25 AM

It is unfortunate to see pencils going the way of the typewriter. Kids are not even taught how to write in school anymore.

**Beserkleyboy** · Nov 25, 2018, 04:33 AM

Too true! Campbell (grandson) likes his pencils with erasers and has been showing them off at school.. the teacher was confused, but then decided he was quite right and gave a lesson about writing instruments. So hope is not lost! At least not in in Young, NSW (pop 12,000). Cheers
Jim

**Toolmaker51** · Nov 25, 2018, 05:38 PM

I've no kids, but mentored 100's. Few related with writing instruments as means to furnish a document.
Worse yet, less carried pen and paper to record salient thoughts.
It doesn't end there! Maybe ten of the lot could sketch out a visualization. All ten participated in Dean Kamen/ Woodie Flowers program called FIRST Robotics.

It's hard figuring out where success of the STEM [Science Technology Engineering Mathematics] program levels the field. If means to convey original ideas depends on digital access; which cannot be equally distributed to all, little real progress has been made! Who decides those more deserving, better suited, easier to reach?
Is the educational goal of integration unintentionally broadening its own segregation?

**Beserkleyboy** · Nov 25, 2018, 06:28 PM

All good points...the smarter we get, the dumber we become...or something like that. Was not aware of STEM, but seems to be deeply entrenched in the Australian public and private schools.Common sense seems to be the first and most obvious casualty of the tech revolution...go figure. And just BTW, no kids here either...step grandson! one of 8...
Jim
30 yr Calif expat in AUS

**Toolmaker51** · Nov 25, 2018, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Beserkleyboy

All good points...the smarter we get, the dumber we become...or something like that. Was not aware of STEM, but seems to be deeply entrenched in the Australian public and private schools.Common sense seems to be the first and most obvious casualty of the tech revolution...go figure. And just BTW, no kids here either...step grandson! one of 8...
Jim
30 yr Calif expat in AUS

I'm not absorbed by conspiracy theories, but STEM works being subsidized by all kinds, mostly tech corporations. With vocational ed tossed out the window, STEM has become a tax shield. That easily could been a lobbyist's coup. Not unlike the health-care chimes ringing awhile here.
My previous employer compensated any participants 1:1 up to 100 hours a year. Granted, you had to complete your promise to accumulate more. At times we had 200+ 'volunteers'. Websters doesn't connect volunteerism with pay. Someone got it past tax authorities and stockholders. Absolute guessitimation says that could be $750,000.
The only way they'll remain afloat is generating successive generations of employees. What they used to get for free, with somewhat broader talents and interests.
Go figure.