Vintage work crew photos

[Frank S]

pJ, I probably have covered a lot of ground if compared to someone who had worked for wages all their lives. I could blame or give credit to Clarence Ward the old blacksmith I apprenticed under up until a bout a year prior to going in the Army. after I had gotten a little older around 14 he told me if I took in a job at the shop it was my job do it right do it over or ask for help no problem but satisfy the customer He wouldn't even tell me how much to charge. I'd collect the money then hand it to him and he would hand most of it back to me only keeping what he figured was fair for use of shop and materials the rest of the time I worked for him for a dollar an hour still pretty good wages for a kid in the middle 1960's My 6 years in the Army or the last 3 years that is at night weekends or any other time I could squeeze it I had a cadre of Officers and senior Enlisted who kept me busy working on or rebuilding their vehicles Made more at that than my Sgt pay. Once out I was just too arrogant or independent to punch a time clock. SO I had to cover lots of ground to feed the wife & kids if you know what I mean.

I built that tram during the time I was building docks on 3 lakes. the Tram was raised and lowered by 2 endless cables 1 attached to the tram and the brake, there were 3 rails 2 for the tram and 1 in the center for a brake, if the cable broke the weight of the tram would be held by the jaws being forced against the pipe The 2nd cable could then be locked to the tram by a clamping device and the car could be brought back to the top dragging the brake. It was powered by a windless, nothing more than a 3 HP motor and a gear box with an 18" diameter drum mounted on either side