the reminiscences of mr. william mielke

20900 Oakwood Boulevard middot Dearborn MI 48124-5029 USA

researchcenterthehenryfordorg middot wwwthehenryfordorg

The Reminiscences of Mr William Mielke

From the Owen W Bombard interviews series 1951-1961 Accession 65

Interview conducted September 1956

Transcript digitized by staff of Benson Ford Research Center November 2011

OCR Please note that this file has been made searchable through the use of optical character recognition However the quality of the original materials is such that full text searching is only moderately reliable Copyright Copyright has been transferred to The Henry Ford by the donor and is made available through a ldquoCreative Commons License BY-NC-NDrdquo indicating that you may make certain noncommercial uses of this material provided that you give attribution to The Henry Ford without further adaption or modification

e B e s a i n i s e e n c e s

U V I I L I A M M I amp L K

Ford Motor C v a C -rcli- Oral M r orgt bi c I icr

Bt ptex oor 1

Ike Btmiampiseeticee ox

M R WIIXIAM wsmm

Hws realslseeaces of 1frac34 William MielAe vere written by

Mm in co-operation with the Oral History Section of the Pore Motor

Company Archives during 1955 lo editorial insertions have been aade

other than- the table of contents aad the index

The language of the imrrative is entirely that of the

dooor le has reviewed and corrected the manuscript and by his

signature below indicated that i t is s correct copy of hie raaiaiscences

fhis memoir Is deposited la tat Ford Motor Compviy -rcl ivee

with the understanding that i t m-y be used by qu lif l e d iutiividraquoxXs

in accordance with accepted archival practice ampamp administered toy the

Archivist

William Mielho

i i

I wae born a t t e r l o o O n t a r i o Conudu on I4v 21 ] bull in

the house located at the corner o f poundr S t r ee t an-j JJridgeêrv Roeo -e

l i v e d i n iraquohe cen te r par t of a TS rlte-lAi-y oas

f a t h e r laquo 1J if C ristirm Mie-ikf as orn a - ltbulllt r c o

O n t a r i o on March 2) j and died i f l a t e r i o r on -^r t bull kt -lt

He i s buried on l o t number -2K l u Mouui Hope Ceieif-rgt rgt- t r w o

Ontario H i s age a t the tLae _gtf his Jeraquoti vas tirtyraquofolaquor ears md

seven days

Ky IMU ltgtr laquoraquoltic Ino freêricka li laquo -he- (fec f gt -if -rn

a t Bayfield O n t a r i o on SeptevUr 2 1 ami died lit bc-troxi Michigan

on fey 10 1933laquo She i s a l s o buried a t Waterloo Her age a t death vas

sixty-five y e a r s seven months e igh teen days They were Harried a t

Water loo O n t a r i o ou February u t gt

rty rrandMotiitr Sfilont- fuy a - J - J C U i n J gt bull lt ltr

husband George died fie i s bu r i ed at Bayflcd Ontario c i l - r o ^ County

there were e i g h t children four boys and four ^ i r l s Ic wlaquoraquo a- moved

to Berlin Ontario (now Kitcheaer) Ky iot l r (ilen s-uwf e) J-- laquolaquodiately

found eapioyaent a t the fefci Utocking factory In Ksvi in Sr- r-amed

t he re u n t i l the day p r i o r to jier ltddiiipound at vkc tne shlt- vas pr seated

w i t h a se t erf two d a i n t y figurines aad a l e t t e r of good v l s h e s frost her

employer

I ted heard that ay grruuiaf i-ltr ana f n u j o w r r FfM- re Lotl

froa Alsace ^Lorraine miij hmi LL bull r a i tv t - raquo

T-tti-c ty cl-ancu iaAiuany xif v i gtrl- aî r r frac34- J 1t bull jraquoch

atcr o ITO^ t l x ow c - _ bullgt yjy y - t

K i t c h e n e r )

My graiidfuti or ui-- bullgtt laquo t - i f sa^

1 y campji-c aeioss 15 iaiaoampi uc C T - J H - ltbull a e - J- ari fo

iisCVu wbLc5 J^ltJ and vas barilaquogt5 J - u - r a i r x a U J

ai arc r i 00 Ontario nvlt Oilty i 0 p J - r r - bull 1^ ltgt- J it

u n a forty-acre rraiipo v1c lt= ts L J - gt V J~ - bullbull11

Grandfather ChriKl-iat I -u-- u-û u t-r laquo I raquo j

Grandjuotcr Cirf-ij iknr tta U L bull- i - r bull r u

jsyi-5 at i r e agQ of scvcni-sir yt n - v - 1 aigt v (l

DOT- arc lu r i tn l A Uvron Giict

Ea T it gts v gt rr ilaquo rv kl

ltoy 1 ltr- fjceai- fnampi bull vc r _ - - - lt-uJ

bull lt-riy t_rcc 3l t-iUv -0^ - -f- bull c c r gt bull r f

Fred i a Viteriuo rou cbdquo bdquogtv v i - bull

had much i a coaraon v i t h 1frac34frac34- father

On l i a - o 1 j A k v - ir~ laquo gtlt - degr gtr

and Cosapan- aa a Eargt inint ftjjr Ik - ~ bull ^JS ~t bull1 1 j

i n t n r e e y e a r s a n d JLssaadiatc iy S u v e r e d connectbulluna She rrociue maalaetured

lyy thea van kii-jv as v a t o x u o o CI gtbullbull l u v fraquo -er

Ihrcsi- ^ r bull 1 a lt r i - -- bull 1 ^ gtgt bullltraquobull -u

ae lalsrs- f o r Vlaquo j i ltgtrraquo ] rct C bull laquo IL tgt - bull K

I- - 1 bullbdquoraquo J-t i traquolt rliampt gt bullbulllaquo-

M O 3 liJlJ I D f t bull t-lt t lgt Ii I i A_ ltl C-raquo

r r - a raquo uc r laquo -gt_gtbull 1 i c l i e i -bullni bullbdquo_bdquo i n - J 1

T v fac 1 o coiipixr-v-c r r c v j laquo r c -Jr bull - - gt

poundiOfs ha- not- c-u fl i t r f i j r~ 4gtc-ivgt 1 u c bull

portable stearaquo tmctoramp

~iie t o iike t cnraquoc voamp a t^ - n-un bull1 -frac34- gtgt

ilaquoae Tor e l Z i-ir Coja bull -r Iraquo bullbulla- ~

had tac rue inlaquo- ork ivtlaquo tv- u s fiv s 1 r isv

wêr^ve c c bdquobullbullgt -y i lt-gt c - -gtc~ ^ T - ^ i - l

(nii t a Li ltbull) j i 11 cent- r r -l s j u lt_ r bdquobull - - bull IK bull - 0 bull n

M s spare i i s e

1frac34 ^rwidfuTgt t r It- i k f m a- -j r - r 1 t-o ACO s raquo~

l a ^ c d q - i i ^ at -isBort eax v o raquo raquobull a i a v 1 lt ~lt ivlc

i n Ms U-jtocrA sôp r kc bulllaquo lt lt

ilovt vex Mr 1-1(-^ - - bull1

caused Prod Pf a tu ty cb renb ilcn it tr bullgt i raquogt - tr i cltiitrac1

vitli tl-rlr cu-iloUirv bullfrac34^ _crraquo-^ r t - V i - J J ii flaquogtr c ii-- ii

so sacit per con3raquo Ifood f o r V-r 1 c m - J e

Ii--

party having wood sawed She squawk was that the boiler consumed too auch f u e l and no agreement naJ lt-en nuc- c HS to furnish wood to aove to the next 30b otit-rs c amplw 0 th raquo t - 11 iirrses ran away he-

cause of the noise Some men complained that t h i s o u t f i t caused them t o be unemployed as i t d i d the work they toad previously been doing $0

climax the venture one eager helper iost a couple of f i n g e r s when he t r i e d to help get the engine going a f t e r having heen stuck i n the snow

There vas no guard and the d r i v e gears were exposed

In the hSO-s I made an e f f o r t to bull 1 -as c i s r-ln- HIK traced

i t t o Kincardiffita Ontario where I located an llaquohy year old W S H who

knew about i t but could not venture a guess as to wbere It laid gone from there

I doubt that ay dad s t i l l bad t h i s r irinlaquo wren he got s a r r i e d

(he a a r r l e a the s i s t e r of Fred Pflug) because sgtort y a f t e r his m r r i a g e

he started thinking about b u i l d i n g a taaeu I- i+ fcecaampe a r e a l i t y

but the bouse was not ready f o r occupancy wht r I lts orn i n 54iy raquo brother George was bom in February 1 raquo - bull - i r o t a e r

Walter vas bora According to ay fathers liary he had had considerable sickness caused by exposure i n the evenings working on the- engine and a l s o

helping to b u i l d the house

On March 15 bull Jh a new sa-bullerintonu^nt was gt i r v J by t a- er 00

Manufactxaring Company Belli- 11 t r e u i v a p lturu srrict^ a eitft-ur 3 raquohebdquov

started experimental work on thea to supplement the v a r i e t y of horse drawn

ones then being r adc there lt v u plusmn i c - - J as

at r iperxitendent- LrodtrLU ^bullbullbullbull lti A bull - r~~ rigty

iiio j o 3 a ire bull61 3Jblit1 r ~ i frac34 -- ~ bullbulllt L laquo v-rt

a no star 51frac34frac34 t o ~mkv -ear f a r bull rrc-crs

M r hroderick and ray J ^frac34-- run T V bull bull dad

aade a nketei o f amp tor raquopound ltnr v - i fo -s t bull bullverlov and

jave tu s k e t c to 3d -rouer d-gt Jr - ir bull c lt bullgt J bull+

teurd auOit iJ B an uv-r tsc 1 rraquo bull 1 bullbdquo t - 1

vox-keel for Tis c a ^ e t tr ê J lt r - bull-bullgt gt -e^t

to vorh f o r Itr B r o d e r l c h

l a l$gtf- we n e e d 1 0 v in r - st ^ - J lt-G be

mcfclne shop foreaan gtirraquo Jcvl laquoltv bull raquo - bull - - r -

months that the stea traction m a 1 it gt i 1 a i t ^cur~

rtd vhic i s vorth rampnt i a lug - u i r tt~ i v r liev

Hamburg Socr seven u i e s 331 O a r t had purcl-anad a new

o r i e n t a l bclaquoilt-r sea--ovvrlt0 4 - u- t gto i 14 t r frac34 ilac-

torl^ff Cclaquo35raquoi gt rquescd t-fy f i v t - v lt 6 bull mlaquo-vr Ihe

far-ier granted t ea t p r i i ^v bull A - u - bull bullgtbulllt bull bullbull anu 3

as 1 3K told rejiovfi bull 1 1 ^ T T r c bdquo a r u 1 -U gt r ast aa

pHiteri3 aaJ arai a i l y uaJe r rfxlaquo-- _ gt s gti igtr or

Xebcs ieraquo fiears gt i i t c ---crrvn i ^ A i r t t - 11 i v - lt- tt

Joe vhesc art e li co s 1 i t y t i 1 r bull r bull ltbull lt bdquo -v

t o SfTiHr(c ) FIQ v c r rlgtjygt J 1 c a ( cif as bull i e

fhle was uooa d l s c o - a r e d rbdquo bull-frac34frac34frac34 and i t J u i i t i - i k

h i s nelaquo t r a c t o r r n d U c v so tr J lt gt ca-r raquo So a bull I -n -

i-airly uac l o o t by Ue f - r c r ltraquo ^ A - Y r I gt o 1- laquo 4 raquo r - bulllaquo- x v

a d j u s u T e n t vu- aUc i t i bull 1 - -c i - i o i - i ^ t a r i t r

q u i e t e d

bdquoucart y 0-1 gty1 s - c t bull f

just a tV1 jcrv o f - cltlaquouauo_ a bull craquogt -c t 0 0 r n f olt 1

i gt v rgtr X rc-CCjJer raquorer- t u t s m 1 f t j raquoK n ltt ltvi~

J o a t c r G oraquot--raquo bullbullbulllt r r o bull c bull - bull ltbull r n

t o t b e propagatioK o f cats

Sc 5K u r g bull-u e i a 4 - tc v 1 bull-v- bull lt bull 1 1 c

r i v e r s o i i a i l jjdlaquos o f b i t c bull j p t C i L i -

I K i v x l a o r bullbull bull bdquolaquo L ri-r co flt t- i^ -_oc 1it 1

G e o r g e s10 vao on y e a r t i d c r C ^ e r ^ 1 bull amp-cI- ^- Lr raquo0

ccQfiit leraac e l c i c a e s ^ i f r bullbull gtbull 0 bdquo r t - lt t a ro r - z 5

t o at c- aye ltV L 1 v v L e 1 - irci_c- J L Osfc

a u t o J u V fcât oa a l l r s ua i sc-o I bull bdquo J V o-- bull0 roi^^s f-e ~

l a g 1 igtao ai v )gtltbullbull sc oojty 1 a o gtbulllt 1 bullbull I bull 1 lt-dego 1 c

auk t o - j - ^ b

- itlc iigtyi i fcVv O i i r ^0 n t U j J 1 raquo raquo ~ -

J J d fctaj- o a e u c y tltoJ i igt t 4 itvgt- raquobullbull gt x - i lt c bull c r

and csy eye fcroagbt i t to a stop 1 c TC

s-ot Oil tct bullbull i taiik v t l e r J ltbull gtroKru gt i - t gty - bullgt soft

sr-ot oil cne track i v jjlt -i rulaquo- I bull tso n - i rslt 11 r lt ata--

aeioti tier - but I didnt Lite u X t al t w raquo-1 bull- oi

lue L O raquo U turned out i n 5-res ut ry-r X bullbull -1 rgt vU7raquo bull-gtbull bullgt

aad hundreds of UiftJ oa m u i r bull - or- - i

II e stop -)ere frac34 iaraquo 6 ts- gt_lt gtn -b bullbull t o-r

hojse a n3 the A 1 - stcrlt_lt i n fcr - MU oc bull e t c ic ltt_ oo e

poundav our dad of t d u d cceas lo _ s U bull cu t lt r^v bull u -- tr u

i a v t Cu ort occasion cy -v ltltivu raquo gtt -t r an- bull bull

usseuoiy for a j or i n out i JAMA m c t c t so a i bull gt ltgti

reampting oi a fev oood I gtck 1 ivJ I bulllt bull a t Jraquo N

blocks of wood on top of one tult bull or 1 lt-oa_bull-01 J-I v h i w bullbull aruig

door I a lso irund oat _ (lt-oiii bdquo ( fs lt f i r s I v- gt a 5raquo _ L 1

did aot gi ^ e att -Jtovj t -tb 1- bdquo ro y 0 -1 ltgt ~

triBide uij a_ r j gtoa K- bdquorac1 vu c - u i - h ^ ^n- v

f i l ^ d 1 c a i r l r i aa-ij r t a i s bull bull d claquo _gt bull r- a

tbtsi) jSovinu iiiTj r^^ lt - v rbdquo ^ x bull 3 ro- iK

bat a l t gtivv oo -M-r^ gt 1 t i bull op ilt it pound gt x - bulllt-j

throijigi ltutfc-rtr sgt-ecrraquoc t CH 4 t -- gt v -w aul t _ A raquo

was at worlc 1 -igaia oit ugt bull c f - I e - tgtrjibull - a- 1 bullbull

trench and a l l vas again v e i l

Although I vms bora i n a I t r ^ i plt raquo J asaee

a s f o i i J c - l a w y e r J j t i _ f fever ltt - s i - bull a i bdquo oil- Jt

1frac34 ( i u t r tliJlgtra irci a i a lti gt

-ueiCiylaquo T c-isc crlaquo ltur r ojL at bull gt bull a

Iucuilaquo-tita i7 I f o u a bull-1 w gti bull Hraquoaa-

aaga Walt sara r a v r 7 si- aaaa v J a ~ - c 1

t--oroagU fa lt jar 1 - -71 laquo a- - bull - a gtbull -bull bull ilt

car--01 d e i a - not r r u i i a bdquobull a ^bull I a w laquo v u c i f

bullbullbulla poundiraquot- aad araquos ltagtaaia ca a- -a vgt j r ltbull bull1 raquobull

Our next d o o r n c - a ^ - i ^ T ^ a 0 bullbullgt - bull abdquo laquo

On oae occasion set 1 i bull - bullgt ^ J raquo r t raquor

a d m i t t a n c e to a 0 0 - bdquot a p bull lt I pound a ^ i - l a

ioi ycarc J t 1- a c 8 gt v a ra tv- A a- raquof - bull ltgt

n t v bull aar a s - a 1 5 f-r gtgt- bull A -a

irac- t- an coa-a r-e- aiid a i - a t 1 ovflaquo i j

caJ~ a oar dear for 060a J - bull raquo a _ bull raquo laquo lt t -1 a

b u t vc r a - i a c a bull

YlC d0 -K Lv bull i O a bull centbull bull bull laquoa gt - i

s i c l i a y x u a (1 c aivr dluo a laquo laquo - r- bullbull bull bull - a n a ^ bull

hmm of aa oltfi sa I s - r la laquo a--jaa bulllt 0 gt ltbullgtlt bdquoa bdquo gt ever

He apy l i t u far 1 frac34 posiw toa aa frac34 LU J ii 1 ult Y laquo bull t t

V i i i a bstter opoortaait^ ro araquo- u J J a bull bull-si bullraquo -- bull ~ t cltae

o f aechaaica r h i s vat-- fca the k raquo bull t Mgt J raquo

c m f e a s t i o a engtiaed -cyrlaquo -laquo^1 bdquo aa bull - bull

d e s l g n i ^ ( i s tyigtr lt x sA t r i a c bullgt JL LOI bull_ bull v lt u 4 bull oi

oar l a r f c Kite o- A- a lt r bdquo s gt 1 ~ r-rf - e yvi-plusmn c nsarj

for get t ing oarh kuo iltbull3 ~gt ltbull s i ^ - p r urbdquo r ~t -r ltc si- gt aa

i a aicd He âd tw cast J uî _u or 0 - Ug 1 -u v lt -i bull gtt

jiiacLire ôrlaquo a-no at a obi ilaquolt~ t= gtr L bull-raquo bdquo UL S^V - igt a j

had soBse e x p e r t uec x iilaquo u-c bdquo

J)ariip txlaquoai car i M ^ V C fcje I -gt ut h r - 1 amp u

hose now and tltcr with tckrraquo t i r vcS-i l ~ bullgt bull x^- vi a as

boarders laquohlc3 êlyec a 1 a l i t i t bull e ti-cc -

I-fn j f l i e cp(gtAOf cr eosp lt t gtbull1 J -i0 r lt

oca i butcher f c ised i c JOtr r i j ti -ir ra gt c gt lt laquo c

o i er Ctipoundi2o T-2iircd cr i h t r rlaquoj P ^ bulllt- - hbdquoi- if- 0 hu-

paper over t- eurobull exhaust pipe I bull Ly i-gtAlur bull e laquo- otv e _gtf

t e flywheel 3 cou^d rotate t r ee i - r o i c rsus- tv c-c- a voive

to open and burst the paper v i t h a batig

Ve uoed krrc r-e-c -ijgtps ih-i i - u ~ bull J I U - A bull v- v 0

stoves f o r heat Our bullwater sup gt bdquo ao gtraquotd win t bull0 wu bull tf verohy

water poured hihu i t drained atT iraquogtt I pound r ltbull-lt rv -tr- gt ac

hundred arid f i f t y feet c t r ti c f tr bull T I gt ltbull__gtbull _ijt

and t v l c e a day an eapioyee of the to i raquo 3 f laquo c bull - U r I ox

extinguish the flame He earr ie t a sraquo uigt-J V i - a- 1 bull ûr-Ose

of reaching the baroer

hhUi- vc ergt i i v i a p cent 1 o- a t f bull bull h-r^ i I rrt-Cj I took

a walk which amir Isad 7 w t r laquonlt1 s-v-cr - - raquorc gt r laquo1laquo a jt i

could see not-Lay vroa^ lt i a a t rio-a i a t ltaa pound av

vay hose Here tr the otorya

Across tbe ai roe a fr- a wgt a rzi yagteer rl bullswt

o f a re-aideacf had bee- convertM a ao s a --a 1 oo gtiii^c

r hand orgampa ariaflcr ao bull cgt vplt-bull bull bullu bull -- - raquo

and oia cais ccay ett I vr-av-r bull hlt rano J _ h bull laquo a

rohe I oats orv vc a tcr t if lt u l y 0 agth bull 0 claquo t i o a bdquo 0 as

rhey and ere d agt~ay I 1 _bdquoc tJ r l a and r gtaa ao bull lt a

eoua aah r exeaa for bulla t c ltbull-aa iny T ) a lt bull bull ~ yr a -a a a n

tae two aaao 2 vair aaa t fro gt TC -ja tgt - -a ad n oa

Waterloo 1 raquo I R a c a i ra h x a a da - a a bull K

Streets io ampteriOo tay-gt-r-euro to- aoa U1h risarlaquo--raquo ia bull a a- aa laquoc

keeper ahes rotn^r dppeav-d u 1 aaaa ta-r bdquo00 raquo 1 u-raquo trAp

hoee vas anything hut pleasant

4jsa atj t-e raquo s lta Id bull gt 0 l v -

cajac enthuicd -it the possi1- bulllt 0 if 1 i ^ u a t Lgt gt --a r a aad

insofar as lule tester na--aalaquoo 3ih I T 3ct carr- I bullraquo rl of

experiments that ho craved 5 e 3a -oareelt h gt a

Oa Augast 8 1 1 ~ raca 1 tapgt a hejaa i

orked there ltrh ix Efryve sh or --aa 0 oeh clc- t a a t racd

to vork ne dlcd t-f i x a S^-ia or - bullbullbull ibull bull ialt gt Ic- lb

i a iyy possession - shoved h ia working 0 t o t a l oh hgt aayo aad aampeaivba

vrS d 0frac34frac34frac34 o a-ot fIraquo-H fox a t e n - h o u r d a y 1 bull lti bull gtl-J

bull c e ac fcy o)i J Of lev bdquo T ^ J r bull nlt gtJ I

viciilaquovcr posai- I rc3iCv 1 u c bull s e lt a-1 yuf

l L Cbdquoi ir t O tUXkSS i-X0$lt4 gtbullbullpoundbullltlt - bull3 1 OUI-

ad X traquo algt bullgt-bullbull

I-raiec oi ale 3 D- i f gt r lt i i -1 i Hu

at te that of bull uc-i or La gt y t bullbullbullbull t 1 bull gt

hritis- Sovorttnr-t ia y i d r l r I i

In bye rler 1 bull e bull LJ lt r ^ lt v u laquobull

(our olt4) bull ie- ve 5 -ell bull s i bull a r ^ bull d

^ i t l Hadbull siciuiP uamp an jnSui-c lt 1 gt tbdquo u bull r bull r

absence ad r ^ t eci_ a- ear f lt - yj -c y-y r v = uay as

ft 10 ie- ouner blaquo a bullu bull aa bull i v

tr--1 to --ate _ i i t tlaquo-v --raquor s J bull A- a bull y u -y bull

caix of usr gt iuct ccl

bullDuring Marc y -ares i u r cent - lt bullgt 1- a o a

raquoraquouy aw Fir ev raquolaquo-ampbull c o v bull rgt-~ bull x l i lt bull - u ult bull K

ooenlaquod ~o raaiu ij -b^rbiy lt_-) cy ~-r - - I -i

practical] forked ia a-a ltpoundbull sat bull bull-1 bull t laquo t vi

and uf ana J-J 1 45 fc- bull02frac34 -are j bull 1 bull a - U^J -gt-bull

ijoek and lt iea or t- jcv^ t 1 HC bull bull J bull 1

era -ye 1 Uvi ai aaa - rel bull yttO f -c - t - i t - bull v ^ gt-rv

tk^rrî jxi Liver t i-c zi J 1laquo o-- 1 ^ iu (

aged seven and ay y gt laquobullbullbull r ro ltraquo a a raquoac fa a

to bring over soae of oar iscgt r tyynu Ic d lt a- a bull v

strokes of 1 gtG oras ad d c r ^ yaaucd oa av a so w J ttit

c verc a l l arpounda-j

Dad d ad ate tt 1 0-1 -bull iraav I a af

buried on IJorday pri Ba aeh 00 ae c a a ^ a in a

iiousefeold and i l e ti v ftwv i r eeor v y-a^ 0 1 u-ode d ho

the rooa U ert ay dad aa h- iorgt- f u d^c-ov^ fgtd or a e s u I a- swa

a i t t i e of caiLaht0iH~ -ae gt 1 tv r-u bull bull f gta agtj bull u-ad

bullltiih argt Caaadiaa oot_ T O ( t raquo00) cdyai a wgt it

aad eyebrovs eoaaeampiiag his oyes i s s t i l l fresh ia my isieaoay Boa had

not 1 cixcaed la bdquo bdquof e iao a-u oc 1laquo jai-a - la 5 - u-o bdquo

L- aout any avripound aôi cr l a ^ h t i t- a hd

in

For t 0 acx- 11 0 -aa-o a ~ oae L etgt r a raquo a- a t

a ona JVpoundTI a ovt t i O r iobdquo a oat oa- bull u i a i h aaay

a hoard ore vaher oâa oa i day bull u -A- i raquo - gtraquoo a- 1

vaij0 scrahhiar of floors cloaai ch-0 i a-1 oidhr bdquoJbdquoyr

tool i a aaeeiag- at 20 ir ag aoT apôh i gtr 5 bullbull a

families ia toa pa-a a 1 eahr 1 bdquoe carâ J exo - gt u- r e a rlt ehec

to f i t us as test she coaui 0 -1 aae s oar a r a 1 rlt 02

oa cards and t- i s ear v jaaly i Tali ao a a e lt w s e r a

vas a l l piecework ve only got paid iia- or a^c- t-_ i e

t e r r y seassou she end I i s t a t o y n S v - e r - bull- c y K r - - plusmn

e i g h t q a a r t s of 1 i d r a o p b e r r i t r- V - t i e r I r gt- a o

t a k e o u r p i lyy t amp e r c s_ a n d oo d bullbullltbull ltbull bullbull-gtbullgt-1 u r-t 1 - a

c o r n rakui^ t e a t h e r v a r a w-t - r lt-va a bull bull 0 bull- r 4 ^ l o r

o f t h i s was d o n e on a f o o v - d r --t s t- ^n îc J bull -1 clttv r 1 i t

t i i e o t t e r o p e r a t i o n a l laquorot a t t i e 3 amp e l u raquo e

1 1 a j i leveâ-iti- r o a laquo i f - e a r o t y v v- a^

-c^dar o v e r 1 rgt eek l o r t l L o a ^ c rgtw t bull rx-s igt -e- mdash v e r a

a n d d e - l i v e r - d i h e t t t o o f f i c e igt J T O ^ J I O 1 bull a a e e a - lt rltt

a s h e s and I p L e h e d a p Les 1 bull r i i t - t t 2 -h - t -r r bull lt

p a r t n e r o f xuie ysc e - l s e nt t o t o a i - af bull f - - i -

t l - ie t y t t r o H i r ^ a l t I T s - p p y bull-bull r u Ly a r bull ôc

I r ie te noon o a r w I v n r r 1 c 5 bull ltbull gtei j

l e i p a i u o f i o n l y t u ~ s v i c k r - l i e ^-tclaquo - bull(6^ i 1 bullor

a r a i l i o t laquo j lt s -bulleeause t e - e r i e cy v bull i e a y - -gtr raquo4gt c E bull a s

i e t a j anu c l o t - laquore GTlabu v x^l euo a bull - - v r

a t lt Oiicraquo e a d a hr-- -ry a a d raquo -J bull0-1 e r y - bullbull y bull1 - l e

a d g r a t r ampbull i t - p r o i r y r u u w c t c cent-frac34 bulllt bull 0 - v - t r i a l -

i i i i o u M o f f r a - r coo d t tsa ^-y- i r v lt ccraquoeha - 1 c~ u _c- gt

i n v a l 3 c T c i -oraoed t LB -oêt s_r bulli 1 too- gtlt f a - r t _c ns

A n e x | ^ o r a d a loroc- and a o tcd 1 I-OR ltlaquo lt lt i E i a r e

occat lona^Jy X a loo c raquoa n-xt 1 o t a B 7 j n x - laquo 1 a bull c- J

t o truzt -c- r i j r on 0 bull f e slt e n s e - r laquo a - 1 bullbull- -

oat Saturdays aad Sardays

Oa c s r a n i a drys of o c a r-1 alt ra W bull bull u 1 r a - oa

u^s o t - x i c v f t o i o id uaad yah ^y agt- a bull o i h care

aa ava4xaLie ao k i d b vers 1 a- o v aot- -att U ae bullbull0 e j t e

raapo u to t-a care Coîoeasra aa- vrv aaea- t y - i a bdquo1^

af i ae 1 xaage doao t o o or c i o v H - u led a vgtao o v d a I i - a u w

bulle-tfX tis ega pr-tiaadA a ay r p a r bull a r ar 7 raquo yar

o n a hrlta1 vayo enter i ^ to f a r r o ao f a a a ltus bull o a a

rtarrgt placee bull ^ e i a tary TPlt ui-- _ a - - i gtlt bull -a-o- - iaa ~a--

c b a a g t f o r 1 rlt vd o cake a bull a- - e e a a aay ~ aa

- 1 ~Tgt ara rd oaca a laquo aai f oe crlt bull- a a gt bull i a aaa r

bull a troay ~ oa I ~xU i a a -rlt a - a a r gtbull c a

ore A a^raaoy a a d ao u i r i p nr r o- aac a aagt yyd

a y -Rod a etc a a o d c oa ooataIilt v a a^ ~ r e a a aa- 1

et igtI d a x X aso at-Ipe oa J ea a bull bull a e a ae -F -ro

h e t o r a t t o doaae of (it a J i

Tie procf^ka- ao ae o a ev e bull bull to s- oe

aad eoni-ataed a fJsppa of a gt ae a a -a a d c d i-r-y a a

a s a l i t iro- Oat f a aaeo r a - a a bull a bull v r a

Itidjo i a 1 - o oay utr-a-- I bdquoalaquort-ad y bull - e a - h raquo oa- it a

aaaeiipteu to bull aad o r 7 e LJ- a r a c - i gt - 1 a a poundlaquoabdquoIoa

c a r t mdash i t a sad e oa bull t ndt i i t bull a i - aa a- a ua- r-jr

Iato o edge ear â- eid a - bull bull bullabull j -

bullJrt ap gtroac -4 1 gtj e lt or - - bull1 bull 1

e lt e r kTrtUiv ~r l a lit 1 t raquo r - 1 ltlt u v -Xt-

a c r o c k e r bull ho ^1 T a L J u a u - j o--bull i bullbull bull1 J - - w

r o - Xt i pound c f a a d r a - cr-n ( o u r a - it r bull - - r e

bulla-Ie bull h c u ltij] L a s c i c i h a t i gtt d i s gt 1 bull c-a c c bull lt C J V r

vas o a ujiraquo irv tu iki bull 0(i i lt i gt ltgt a bull bullraquo i raquo lt

tieas i r e vae z - so - td i v s 1 0 c^ - J 1 i r - bull h raquo v frac34

Uri ppi ng f i t 1 I k I n s o f a r at- ~ r a to a a eiltt r- bull r gt

1irasore i t bulluXred r a c t i c ~ f t laquo - J bdquobull lt c gtbull o u -

laquo-cr-ag t laquoe u t c e a t to L y n gt --bull a bull bull bull bull p

t wabullbulllt bdquogt 0 1 0 i J i - a J J p - i - a a lt

e v e - j f t oas o y y j e 1 d i ^ p r It f - tgt 0 a- - ^ a c

-ouid c-aTlt j gt-U c r -io- aa 7 - r f bull- h a vau- -j t ltsuo

er t h e o a s ^ i f e uo n o t -si- c - a y raquor a - - i t 00 o r lt i

aa l e f t o a 0 ojueica o f t- gt- gthc bull ltlt bullraquo

- inoiwr a n r a a 0bull 1 f c i orna- 1 t lti gt r bull a-

--u aeudeu oi -lt ltey H P as c k t gti- I - a a i -id

I g n o r e d 17 ^ S - O B V D a i r s a - i f s c I an T _ - - gt i its

t t e o u t s i I r t o of tou o oeo lt a ^ -a t o i oo u bull u a - cr

a n d p r o c e s a i t t e A i l i a e k i bull- a a c t -J R -frac34

X e OiCklii r e a s o r s ^ - t i a-- laquo - - j y ^ l ~ lt 0 a o t

- a o o t a r ae eo-d l t i o s udjaKat0 - - l e t a TV Jgt r a- t bull 0

vork - a a frac34frac34 r -s set x r o n h - raquoac bull ^ 0 bull1 bull bull bull t o t

one week ahead g i v i n g He ioca iat o i t i e eaagtfoai ai t r oi-oed a a d

t h e datlt- oi p i c k i n g o u ohd r o a r ^ i e t a a r aore a o w e~ a tOtagt

f a r - l i l i e s would be s e e n poundKdong Th--r a- v x i i bull a a h a aaz u n a n - a t o

oxd clothes good f o r r a m o r v a c b tiAett o i ^ e l a a a - o -J a t

on a a d ltjnc aad gta cr ja^s 1 bullbull ua- vas ir o ^ a hi gt a olf 1

The owner s j a r g o p o r t a l t e toxey whie bull eo_ud gt lt bull iJ aa bull a bdquo f o e x

a t a n o v o conoained f u a r co^para taat k anu bdquobull laquo rgti e 3t bdquoraquo J laquoareo

t h e s e b o x e s -3oaetirieG feus i l l of- oa lay uorltbull a a i a Ic bull x i a h l i - oaers

vouid j s e Wo coirjpartiueat s TI a had tlaquon n - i ^ a t ty a l gtelto o bull J M

Oaia H i l l u n t i l t h e ccoaartneni -as f i i and I h - a e t olt -d ao^c a h

Those hou-3 w i l t quicsiy vixen exposed o tr a bull a a - r s J jltlaquood f r o a

t h e v i n e t h e r e f o r e t h e slower y o a pick t h e aoa- nt s t l a a i i i a t

a p o a h e a r i n g yottr c a l l c o s e s a i t h a s a c k Id gt a nas ar a a -cubdquo

edge he p a t s t h e h o p s i n t o M s sack a a d paocae r - - a v e r e enlt -ira~

you a c c o r d i n g l y

i h i r i a f i t h e winter o o jsaajs A gt a t i lt a t e A J i n

u i a i raquo e t c r a a d aho at f l f t e a f e a t i o n r arc rî Jbull gtlt a ^ aa_ i a holds

i n p i l e s In the sprlna hoietgt a r t p reed i I bull TOU bull gt 1 vet bdquoo t u e

v i n e s tre p o l e s i n s e r t e d a n d tgta v i n o s tied a a -0 bdquou roving

s e a s o n s e n d s t h e s e v i r e s rp filhoan f e e t and ops kvo oo here

The p i c k i n g o p e r a t i o n i qo-Uad t e a i i f a ltaa a axamp t i v e

feet froa ohe g r o j n o The poi es arc- t t e d t vJ1- - a e a nid

l a i d o n o itorifcoatae po e s u s p e n d e d ia -j ltt 1 bullgt s ^ -a a n - gt v i - M o v e r

t h e boxes Here each f a a i i y oiosr f r o t h e p v bulllaquo o r - raquor e y ^ a r i a t a t

a n d a s t h e v i n e s a r e c l e a n e d o f h o p s tiie p o l e s a a d tne o l d virion are

d i s c a r d e d and r e p l a c e d w i t h f r e s h ones

I t i s laquo o t a t a l l i m e o i o E o a to h a w W i gt auraquo raquogt laquobull 0 - r i s e -

among t h e s e four- - f a m i l i e s inf oaltr - c i v laquo- gtu lt i a t causes

f o r d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n After a f c a w i gt ^ ltraquo lt v- i i vr bull -^

p a r t n e r s f o r tfte iif-xt t v o bull eelcr e a r c i - 1 SO ^1frac34 t a laquo - O J i - r t bulllt i-

m o r e s o a e o f laquo t e e e f a a i l j a e ha-- -nd i s f ^ L H i f - ) a bull gtro J h d

t h e m t o a c c e p t this t y p e o f hgtmdashlt~ Cgt ^ r c t n v ( dor-Lr o r u bull bull fit r e n t

l i f e Ti ie c h i l d r e n o f r i o s t oc t 3e y y e bull^bullbull^ a- c v - au-i

e x p o s u r e to t h e t ieutn+ s - ~ s - n r bull ltbullbull y d a o i a laquofy taos s o

f o r t h a r r a o t c o n s i d e r e d lo^s Vk i r gt- I -gt raquo K ^ r ^ a i a

a sv-artirur sup a r d tht bull n c c r n i f i lt oagt bull it- bull

S u i t x s t h a t y o u g e t 3 c r n t c t t 2 lt - - J a - r gtd ~ --xi n( a y

g e t s i n t o tht-rt s k i n c e r a t e bullgt t o i laquo- VgtMlaquo r r

w e t tier o r n o t i s r y c a n T H P -n lt i e - f bullbull ir t ltirgt ro raquo bullltlt r r - it

1 o K y o u ua oa i gt save t h e i r ^ a h f u - - j y - ee bull i i i p r - r -- 1

f a s l y r a t e r t o reat f o i h-hy i a arij t h e = =- re h i lt e-gt

n e x t s o r n i r i g laquon can VRJK a j i i U raquobull v a r d - bull - - 1 gt y bull a

T h e p i c K i t v -5- 1 3 5|Jda j t r i a bull a pound r rlt - lt o u r

f a m i l y v a s r e p r e s e n t e d ry- L O - t V - ^rj T bull laquo te-- - gtlt Agt

a a d u y s e L f i t t n e a laquo lt m gt y apt 5 ay o u r - - r lt bull - bull - -i a t bull r k

one ye r oa- haî N-P 1^ gtay s bull 1 1 - bull 1 vv ^ r

c o m b i n e d lncoie of the foui i ly

After Vgt e JSltS ti-- t A c f v l bull e v v

bullwhich was a h-siaped h-u^di-if laquo i w - ^ rac -r u-gt tgt oltlaquo It y io r f i e t r

ii th two i i O c r B ahove raquo i t i ta~ bull0 gtht r ixf- ltlt- n-c- c- ltgt t bullbull the

fariraquoaeeamp - e r r o o d iur- i uy a a 1 1 ah of a uv bull bull ee bull1 -taofd

toe hopu -t heouh I t a l t ltbullbullbull a 0 t - i c -bull e o u u u- J aarx

f o i f r t s h a i r at the ca o la opt -msraquo t t oif v t w v raquo x gti sut

fev o f aece e n t e r a l 1 O T S v n a bull - ltbull i - i gta 1 - i J t a a K

ovticolaquoie by fu es they dropped raquo -ok i bull0 t - - tgtw c laquo s v

ecupri ssou ano sood to re or bulllt bull h^ uyji bullcent5 c u t -or lt -olt i6ria

f l a v o r they talk about ii fcnar c igt gt r

T h i s p icking r a t Irô N lt bull 4 r r l j w u i l - ir av

t o school for a fes day- rae- ylaquo-ltrf raquo I raquo J orrr-cpt ihclfij

part o f the sufer vhct 1 10 an e v r t - c i t a u t 1 n bull - xu

thlaquo hasefjtra of ttu i r t i bull01 bullgt If r a n 1 bull gtcgt- gt i

v u t c r s h c l i r u raquo tre C- r ut sud t t bull t a 1 gt 1 T bullbullbullf 1 b gt icgt

oau n s bull bull bull u e t r a d i raquos raquoaygt h - i t v 1 r- j s n J bull r 1 I rr e

and a good d t i i v o r y auo -a 1 a aaas bull 1 bull t rb r t- y

O l d 1 bullbullltbull L v t mdash i n c h -aif-rgtraquojJ t laquo bull i bullbull bull ^ cilaquoiiyt

sect ion of f n-te 1 fro laquo lt l - t a h a - rv bull bull lt M

nardwood f o u r ty f 0 r ehlaquoadin^ r t i e a bull bull a i r a - i e

c o u l d l i l t the a a oecaeicgtay 7 I c i i iv laquo - -y 1 t u t

part-time h e l p mdash j a o s t i y always k i d s

In th suwmx of lhlt)6 whea I ms t a e l v e I Urea cast as a sandshy

paper boy i n a chair factory The amirs wore dipped i a u taa bull oh varnish

aad then suspended and allowed to dry The roca aao staaaa ea- cd _ve-n in the

suiiKiertine to accelerate the drying iv lob V B to remove roaeyu spots from

the corners with sandpaper bench vas ahooa nta -hig^ en wale bull the chairs

were placed -while sanding 1 stood there saudiuy five ho ea- alaquo a stretch

froa Y a oa to 6 pan aaa I had one hoar off at laquooon for Itaaa to tae aftershy

noon of the third day I rested ay -ip on the leach hi el id aoa interfere

with jay sanding w-atsoever hut tic for aeui elaquoae aver aao toid ae u stand up

The next aoartung I ms rdssing In a w wh I eoat c a c fee -v oar^ days

pay and tool hose fl-ay gthich axuo-iatei Ugt jop a hay or 5----frac34 aa oar

1903 - I906

This was the period when tsty mother aas busy trjia- to proatde

for herself and three beys As I lad ao father to guide tae I aaae may

of Jay own decisions I vent fishing often a l l -liora as 1 felt I could

aore or less sneak up on the f i s h noiselessly rfy ampet ou ooei-itd t pay

off as 1 often had f i s h for sale and a ready tmxicz at Mr aad li r t Levis

house I carried a small t i n box in ay pocket containing his aoc-aa and

sinkers and an uncle furnished m with vaxed shoemaker s ahroad 1 I tad

poles hidden in trees and i t see-ned easy to get aortas or grubs fro-- under

rocks and boards favorite place was just halo the f x yxiâc-e T e

water there ms deep aad there ms always enough eater lea lay taratgh

the gates to keep the water i n ripples but I v i i a adkua 1 laquoy art aiatc

uo he here us so oft a u I eaec e ess bullbull1 t a

RpgarcJiTC t -f lt bullbull h i I bull j laquo -bull bull gt raquo hJ bull bull lt I

l-au any to spare and insofar raquos ylt -n)1 lt- r raquou alt bullbull)1 J 1 3tooo In led

taHntf any aore roia I senior rraquoaieivoe lt bull ea i--r ltgtfn f i s h

vrice I accepted aad xa less t agtraquo f a eaa aa- -H- a - at gtr Levi

wao oar laquoocabull juakaaa ua Cro o^sc - i^-y bull a oraquo

aad so f o r t h I VIE jraquo -trexr ltbulllt oi^-i ltlaquo a- gtbullgt a v -a- bull h i sx ys ash

at to sit dovn aad Lata she to raquoU ot or a a leaUex uree f r - vhicl

sae wooed get t V aoae( lhj lt-bull a- o bull - i e lt a t laquo jlty

ana she von loa^ skirt-o anu Beara (a a bullbull alt gt bull a 100

ocaoe 11 j aira uno -here gtas h e a- - a aa c bulllaquo n a-1 ilt

thert vas a eoneltailti t a h r a - t c c bull yc -bull oi _e h a frac34 or raa

If t reason I eantioa a if i s tee a a y i f - la- a a- hf bull it v a

Levis the tova OTS saocaod l y o bull- oewr taelt 1c - lt lt gtd ca aocaee a-prosy

The rovn eaith a itoori c s eaJha fa a at _a c 1 lt--ltbull- a d of

hia l o t and fenced i a Card- era atla u ~ ltbull f vx eo-a^ r

iowii people of t i s uiscaslaquo bdquo I lt L a c -o J e mdash lt bull bulln- w-

fore arranttcsacahai err- eoop-t Li -e dt aaa a

-frac34 C- c L a t e r aid tic caJ he areu a a raquo ^d iy

horses l i i i t sc-ccvai co tv ae e - rou a igt - I lea 1raquo a-a- t r a a i t o

a- nicely hy - t ioîr j raquoa to i a d v e wy e- h-- a 1-a tgt a- bulllt taa bull st

aae r t g vas iifltr lt dae ia or bull 4 bull lterô r bull T art bull

ouse xn Hiteeeaer to yiok e ^ -ar re gta ergt t f J ltu h a J dray

backed up against laquo ouuLny ucu a- J pound laquoraquo bull ad bull gtgt - ltarrt

onto the dra raquoei a p-iasli^ Ltlr t raquo bull I i v i raquo e orro

to jyap forward and t i e u i r r t J gt x s t r v ltJr bull laquo o laquo a coarse

the barrfei head fe_bdquo off anP q v O - i t bull a-- -v bull -a lt r bullltbull ltroa0

He put soae of the Q l t m n saga laquoae ( 0 t - a r r a lt o-- of a v i f tvlt-

pounds there hat i t laquo33 cltut I 1 u Z x t bull - a bull v bull - 10

frac34- rloose and pantc pocketbull I Hgtgt a ver frac341 J-y ah e i n I ot

home 1 was amp bullas aa tr-o sonar rul for ea a bullgt bullbullgtbull r lt c tgt ltay

not be as serious aa i t seersed a otrlaquo -t bull gt-Uti bull r aad

blouse only both washable

Mrraquo Glei ster and bull r -reet- gtst a 5 raquobull B I prv laquoirlaquo

abuax f t e tu^n as aney tsua 1 - r i 1 gt bull - of aaa âd _a~ i ^ t r

to arr ive at tte f i r d - a l t ator _ gtA -a -ia-ltj T - en t i crefore

entlt_eu to tia- distinct icu oi -taj-^ lt a-- -Ot t i -- f i r au-

also rec-t Lveu the C) Sltardd bull urpaa

Our f i reho ltBlt Mar bdquoecû a_laquoos _- - er f -a iv u

a tower attached i u viieh tia -a j | x r r- - gtbull bull u laquo a 1 i

a L-if 1 y for ringing e t tj l e x vi-i t c r s 3 bullltbullbull - a o-- 1 bull a Pi - fir -

h a i l 3md two heavy front doors one hose and choamptieal vaycty and one- ladder

âguu The rear of tl gt -a bo Mice 10la w ^ j -Va a-o r- a d a f ev

prisouero i n a saaj i yij -chic- ai- r bcaa bull a- -t 0 a ao

tanned the J i v i n g quarters for a o 111 ^ o a igt taiigt

t ey ruisod alt adopted hey -bo a- j c lt -a raquo^ aalaquo arouc

possessor of the only brieve io oa Tois waa a lso l e i or r bull U r

tares and Ira cycle ridigtgt r s - i r5 ui^xlv 1 e a - bull -at i

evident1 he aa bee lt f j a e a 0 o- ~ - ib bdquo I r Le bull bull lt d i d a t

Tre depart cai v a r a r e^cae a- a a o r ^ v bull - aunici aJ

caneo toaa e l elt vao on e J I oae a bull laa bull oa- bull 3y aaraquo gtbull _ lev -1 eii bullbull far

f i r e b a l l T c proced rgt war oa i o i bdquo a s 1- cr gt S bull -ielt i f a io

was sent frua 1 est scattered ooxti c a e a e i 7 I ox

tlaquoo ixocas fro a O X a - eas rraquoclcr bull a-ty a bull anee a ae _ 02

tooet of the boxes aou t eir l a - t T i rltd 1 oa bull a -atar bull e ao a -ed w e

b e l l vouid t c i _ sr-oi pause ora a pauv ltgt bull gt-o t r _alaquo -t

volunteers who were scattered about loan veaia drop t he i r tools aad

burrj to thgt aeaiity if i i -0 nlt eet bullbdquo lt a laquo- a-slt r - v =-(

the f l r c j a i de NarstS 1 outv-e -r the t a r bull t bull a i ^ a bull 1 ye uaa

place lltaruess and traces oere -insicad aar bull a - f agtu y a

tiie hose vayoa end cbeeleajfc JOAJ fa- = lt o -a- - aad

vonld r ide a bull oiwr ethers-I se a a bullgt i u as a a iraquoealt gt bull e -ee

Crsiicriic t-c top-a-et claquor abdquo or Virgts v - e j bdquo-ss

than v e a e prOt-or-i gta iec gt-aa -erraquo a - t a j or anraquo

dayb I i var ial iA i d ) 1 h jts -ar ^ vo ai etaah -e v-

vhere ltitl in t radius of i c i a - M snu i n a h n r a- ocx e a j Ts altboapi

having a fcricJt w a l l otad laquoxn bull cr R U ^v i t e^s i a laquo t laquor todera

ones before the firc-ata arriwlaquolaquoo e hire a ad ie q raquo i n

i 3 y youth I SSH mver f i r e s a aai bull bull laquo a bull r e-j raquo i^gtgt

After one o f t h e s e f i r e s i n sea rch ing the rajais ve sa ivaampeu s e v e r a l

e o i i s o f s o f t xron win- t a o r o u r v anaaaaeh s a - st hava gt ^ t s

o f t h i s a n u with o u r eaôr lt car te u kro OaJ a a d aoamp c u i e

r a i l i n g s c a v e r t s ana l o o p poo (lt tn -i-e ca - -ltvru 0iigtlaquo - aUaag

t h i s w i r e h e r e a n d t h e r e W i bull fnoteampeu - K A- t v gta a r aiu a a d

threw i t ap i n t h e a i r t lsat a fa_lthult$ i t - - tt c laquo l d e r o e c s_- lt w i r e

up on t h e p o l e s und i t voa_e raquo tekbdquoe vhosu aôva o thlaquo p r o a a u o

a c c i d e n t a l l y or ot) e r - I s e tnio coae la eehar - ah r gtbull a 1 laquo a d

l o t s o f f u i i n o t r e aLizj n g o a r a a c r a t âo-cr a o a c f

One d a w r u h - a t scoca j i r a t o 1 - r 1 oa r t r a ogt o_

we h e a r d that t h e Granu T r a i i i - Cavrrf a i - c tc r y v

m a i n t e n a n c e ITOIgt a e r t f i f a t bdquo v aa a i r ttolt 0 a ^--en 1 i v axpoundi _ssed

a t h psi ax t h e toys a t c t o ran worgt got a bull a laquobull i J a o paa i r r i v a l

d o v n t o v n v e f o u a i t h e v o i u a t e e r a r ^ f i y h t t r s a tKuU 1frac34- t a j a iyaent

and p e a c e had heeu d e c l a r e d i t seeun t h a i the ChB aaa acuy ln -u p r o p e r t y

f o r a f r e i g h t t e r m i n a l a n d had h e i r i r u c k s a v d u It a a bull c^mdasha

passage t o o narrow f o r l e g a _ pa jajje P e t v e e u re ^ a - e c r o c r o f

J 1 Seagrams l i q a o r v a r i o u s I i a y i raquo - reca f r f i -a O 1 raquoe-

n e c k i t requirebull5 t h a t ill t x - u V t c - agt ov i a x C h i a- ^111

bullwhea t h e f i g h t i n g s t a r t e d l o h ts d a 1 ea a ivlt ~gtjt a a y raquobdquo ooi or

coapany would attempt paasae vilt 0rr thlt r i y o - i - 1 v a x a aea I t i n

order f o r C t R to g e t t y t h i s c a r u e r 1e Seayra Caaoauv a aaa t a r c o m e r

o f t h i s s e a s o n i n g aarc ousc oarf i v i - d L i ^ g of - a a a v y - r e raquo ir bvt

c o n d i t i o n t u t t h e l a r g o m a j o r i t y o f t h e r t raquo a bull - bull0 0 - now a

c i t y mdash h a w S e v e r h e a r d t h e s t o r y

Ota w i n t e r s u s u a l l y 1 pbdquoc -raquo o f n o a i bull s u ~ A lt y o o h

f o r m o n t h s T h e Ifcamouttt- f a r a - r - u u r 01 raquo 1 r t j - r n a ^ s -

t r i o u s T o ttec 11 a l ^ o bdquo s bdquoeo bull t i r y 0 ^r- - a - L H I O orultip

where t h e y d i a u o s c e o i a e a t e bull sf-fr s -txe 0 gt ai_ Hlaquoja C a a a t s

f a n c y work j e l l i e s j a a o c o t o r a - ^ t t - i c_ lt e a a 0 e u_-1

t o t o w n p e o p l e

C o r l v o o d i a t t o s t d a gt a -ao - 1c1 lt laquobull i -a- a t i J bull t- d e l i v e r shy

ed t o j o u r 0-0 f o r h o a r ooi1 r - a bull i a w - bull 1 bull al a-i-

naa needed a f t e r d e bdquo i v t r y t o 70m- oat 7 fu -a laquo Hgt U 10 l a bullbull10

bullert a vaye pJxled b y two o r s t s Ti bull box 0 lta uP 0 e

f o o t J e e p anu t u e botio~ ag c r ^ o r c e i t f r a ih- a t a a it-ia_ bdquoy

o e i c o s e d a l i f t h e n e v e r f t a c s s a r raquo^r raquo o r wc

v e r e velectae o r a o t a l t h o v ^ l a y amp o f a r o r on 1

t r a v e l e d t o g e t h t r qzugt a gt t a bull pound ^ u frac34 v ltbull bull Jlt-

f i r e t I l i C U j bdquo 4p tax- r a ltbull i + f 1 i e laquolaquo oad L lt eâu

g e t 0 raquo I c o u l d a l s o I f a fariaer r e a l l y d i d n t waat us he w o u l d r a n h i s

-bullorses s o fuur v e c o u i d n - 41 o n

One a a y v e were n i c t s~xti hv 1 1 l a c k end of the sled cent1frac34frac34

h o r s e s were r u n n i n g B i c e y and bullbullbull gt bulllt 0ltgt t bull c a 0

v e r e wegt w i t h oar r i d e H o o v e r o a a bdquo 1 o a - oS - t v e

d o u b l e t r e e and i t kept s w i t c h i n g one h o r s e ia the b e l l y aaa aaay they

went t i a j a c t e n r rontl laquowraquo nr -vtf - c a f 1 so

s e c t i o n of oar town 1 at laquoo evc y o i t y a i v bull i a er as

tryiag M s best t o get tne ea -der ouiro -a a o aa gta- J- gt seeing

us costing attempted to stop -us by standing r i lt a U o t t r t roau -xth

aras outstretched the x|gtLar t-oa f a bullbullbullceaofaA -y~c gt tea on

wur eaaneco o f j jnpjnlt i at ia 3 ft i r ltbull ie - a bull real i ad

a oriruoir-^-- t r o u n i a t e i i - hotlta raquobulllaquo raquo d - aa bull-ltbull gt-ia - c aa s

thought oi t h i s as abca ao yea ivt aigt c f i - i gt raquo J a sharp

r i g h t taragt Oar s led w bdquo gtKh4- raquoo jalnta - bull c i - if had

been removed froa the SJde aUt V - U J - bull orslt- f a o a a s t o p

ho one a s hurt but tv hoys er u gt bullfrvr i- Iter I Ki J opcrf

habio rt-vaa -a a tie -as v C a i-gt- V bdquo r gt -lt 1

r o t to acrvcioti oae i i i i C V h e r a y a t gt~ r lt -- e bull ~ r a

y e a r s senior a bore yen a5 v a-a t r raquot - a -J - bull r frac34frac34

h e r b s raquoolther d i e d Hi c 4 y t c tint a - s -3 h o r sbdquoa

aire s c a t t e r e d a h o o t ^J - a r t e a o ltbullbullgt I a â - a- gt_ - i n

br fcs u a e h e l utci i p p e r T laquo u e a u I a i a -K - a-a c i - a i a c r

ard oadt r l e t c e a as veh a s a are - aat a t a ar- e bull-a a h a i a far--

i ere ha aac a vldo a e a t T a r i t d oauy aa - gtar - a gti ae aoa

i i V C u v i i t t fiM T e i r bull oibc aa-- o r y e n d a f r h a r r a s i d e

saaervay Serba rooa G t ic- lttjOo a i r o-lt - i bdquo u a - h o rue

vac aif i l i s t e d and t t r a i h a a t bull 1 xr da ae-y s ocev ca rlt ^ Le

-25-

explosion of a hosieasde bomb ve bad constructed Herb aieo carried a scar on bis forehead acquired at the soae tiae

Herbs so-called mother here in fact she aas his ohdar cousin) had aot one bit of love for Herb However talt= Brace faeuly nexl doormdash two old maids and an old bachelormdashaalaquo tu armppy l i f e aerb war obliged to l i v e aad were much better aethers and a father to hia than tlaquoiraquo cousin Herb and 1 had an a f f i n i t y for each other and traveled oar royhood and teens together later on he l e f t far Detroit aad I foiiovec a year later

Mr Adaat Klippert Heros uncle with vhofi he lived -a-o a gruff acting 3raquoraquo bat very kind at heart and he was interested i n aeea fiovers and vegetables fheir house ms on about one-third of ua acre oal on the rear liad a driving shed a tvo-story karri aad accomodatioas for a horse and cow One of each they always had The bam also caitainoa u oaggy and the horee-dravn hearse ased i a his busulaquolaquoss lie tmv t-e baaal proceshydure for Catholics as veil ae Protestants and rand led sost of the tovns funerals

Wirega Herb grev into a is teens ne because as aucies rxtipcr i n the undertaking business and as he progressed I beeampse aeroa alper in

tae elbalamping end later on Herb vas sem o Toronto for sever--J- iaoampths to become a licensed esisaliaer and during that period 1 laquoas iaa hxippert s helper Mr Kiippert had the contract to eaaaut those of vhosi laquoiea in the local Hoaee of Refuge and were destined to be bariec ta batters f i e l d fheae bodcopy mm eebalaed by ia- and seat to Voroato to Me bindent8

ledleal School One experience stands oat in ay jaeaory wi l i e on ore of these

t r i p s Tiie night was dark and the ground frozen but there was uo snow on the ground It was after nine when we went for tiae hod aria later than we thought We had at least two miles to go and ao ve left the

House of Befuge Mrraquo KLippert decided on the back way hose Heilxe his old f a i t h f u l smre vas trotting along nicely pulling an extremely long wagon aade of special length for rough boxes hut of very light construcshytion $h streets in town were not had but for about a quarter of a a i l e between towns the road was rough and froaea aaa the night me cold and dark I was probably fifteen at this taiae and s t i l l t i a i d regarding death but to hear the thud of tbe corpse bouncing ap and do ia the rough box had my hair standing oa end However he was in a tarry to get hose and evidently vaa unaware of the sounds 1 heard

Mr Klippert also had a display roan for coffins watbiu two blocks of town square the front end ct which laquoas osed for a roruehop Herb and 1 copypent miry and aany an hour here tinkering with vood Herb used to spend festive occasions at our hoae aad called ay mother S S O K

Herb was always posted with the latest i n ileas and 2aechirac0 aa-i tried thea a l l out whenever possible Hhea engines were aade to f i t oato bicycle fraises he was trie first to have one hot satisfied v~th the performnce lie had to ioprove i t by making a higher l i f t cau h-en his

neighbor seat away for a brand now aotorcyole Serb wss deiegmteci to pick

-27-

i t up at the freight shed uocrate i t ampm study the instruction book This donegt Herb was not content to try i t out on roads i a our neighborshyhood so up to the park we went be oraquo the motorcycle and 1 oa a L i k e

Oar park bad a quarter iaile cinder track ased for foot m mil as bicycle races but aot banked for speed races As could be expected Barb took a nice s p i l l and the neighbors new pride and joy aad nickel plating and paint reaaoved l a several places

Herb vas the f i r s t to explain to sm the difference between tvo and four cycle stroke motors and after having the workings of engines explained to ae gasoline actors took on a aev interest Together ve

studied every motorcycle and aato that asm into tows Stoat towns in those days had a flour or grist a i l l ami our

town bad an exceptionally large one Most days frost seven to taaive and then froa one to six the water mml mtt operating although conshycealed in the building However the a l l l r s c e and tailrace bora evidence of operation One day easing horn froa school Herb and 1 saw a raft in the aillrace Workers had l e f t i t unlocked Tae raft ms draaa against

i

a heavy log across the taillrace by current Tm log was mM mmmrge4

and used to prevent floating branches logs or hoards from hitting the finer lighter grates mm the water laquoheel he boarded the raft and vitb sticks tried to isove the raft against the strong current Ve were able to get about four feet away froreg the log but then with a stick at a di f f e r shyent angle against the wet log fay stick slipped off and I f e l l into deep

water

Since Herb alone eould no longer kucg t-gtc raft -a-oy fro tne log i t crept against the log iefore I eiaer gti-iJ fror t-e -amptcr ere i s no longer anyone l i v i n g to t e l l slat happened but when I waa revived I

saw quite a few aen around ae well as Herb 1 didnt stop to itvudt anyshy

one but just yelled to the top of ay voice and ran for boEse Itr Beer a neighbor sav se the next day sad told he yarn there after herb bad jse out and he told ae i t wss a miracle Herb got im out froa under that r a f t

Herb also recognized t i e vclae or f o r of walking uiuor^J-ter

and spent considerable tiae and sosae Kjoney aakiry^ bdquo iiaseu a iexrc- for

underwater use but abandoned the idea after sever- close C U J B Ik

then aade himself large flippers for attechiny tc his feet a-aai to be the fastest bafaan in the sister Sbeae iouever were isidi oi ri bull ide lacing soae leather and pieces of one-inch- hoards 5Tcv sore opt is feet afloat but his head s not iaaune from subassrsiom

Berbs uncle had quite a collection of f-xcarô acraquo -X course were locked up i n a cabinet i n the basement ilerl scgtlt ere the key was hidden and together we experimented with ois aîymt-x i-z loading shotgun shells It seemd that Mr lUippert ootigbt tie powdtr aud shot whole-

mlreg as he lad box after box of various size shot he found that these had a low sfeitlag point BO we aadcopy ourselves patterns aad molds mamp went into the f i s h line and shaker business t sold one for aad thought

-2gt

then that m~ future ms secure financially not realizing that the fellow

I got the 2 5 $ from was keeping company with ay cousin and lie hoped his act

of generosity would carry to the proper -party for obvious reasons

That evening I knev a s one of t h e evelags tbdquoae -lea a r vuiid

be out working so I borrowed Herns H o l d he uotu cf lead uraamd

vhleh were formerly freight car seals I g o t a good hot f i r e going i n

the kitchen stove clasped ay two-iocs vise onto the k i t c h e n t a b l e a n d

using a large old s p o o n s t a r t e d p o u r i n g The spoon handle got hot so a e

held onto i t vita a wet rag Soon Gbe mold vau too mxu tc candle sc we

dipped i t into -water and again s t a r t e d to pour Tae- ho- bull u h i t t i n g the

wet mold caused an explosion which lef t the nearby e e i i i a y and w H s fuel

of lead dents and ay face f u l l of a m i burns f o r t u n a t e l y rfgsur i t was

nothing serious

Sexfc Herb made a hand pump vaeuusa c l e a n e r Aiteony i t ead a

l i t t l e vacuum i t wae nevertheless useless ao t sc- acata was not constant

and the pwaper soon wore out

The hright ôthers were tear everybodys heroes BO fit vt a n d a

Snyder bey ehariad building a gilder Howeeaa -aa compifteraquo i t vas too

heavy for fl i g h t and slashed oa the t r i a l f i i g a t herb oecrate t y -ad

bought a course of Iiypnotisn sv au L -tnd aff r bull bull laquoc of ampc ejy -Jeadeo

with tae t o be his subject 1 continued to r e f e - t a and I cellove i s hypnoshy

t i c a b i l i t y accompanied hia t o his grave wit jlaquout -aving had he -leaaore

of being applied to anyone especially not me

In l$lM Herb l e f t l a t e r loo and campme to Detroit and was hired

by E e k l i f f C i r c u l a t o r Company he had a t-jorouj tuowloeê o-f r ochanicai

drawing bat chose- t o work l a the shop and a bull a i f yoi-ro it r te

Joined the armed forces aad weat- to France with the Sixteen lry tugineer-

ing Corps froa D e t r o i t He returned house to De t r o i t and toot ecoioyiaent

a t Fords as a wood pattern aaker hut only staycu a short tiit- he said

that te had to have outdoor work so he accepted jot as laborer building

the Port Street bridge across the- Bouge River Bis knowiedgt aiw a b i l i t y -

were soon recognised aad he was put i n charge of pumps compressors and

mechanical equipment Having plenty of leisure t i a e when a l l equipment

waa working w e l l he wandered around with his eyes always ready f o r new

s i g h t s

One day i n M s wanders he noticed th trough leading f r o u the

tower to the abutment bad plugged preventing a proper flow of concrete

(Herb had never been taught the aeania^ of trt- word fear) so he and a

f e l l o w employee started up the tower copylis was e n t i r e l y out of Herbs

j u r i s d i c t i o n but fee started down the trough backwards or au foir s hoping

t o help the wet concrete along However t r e added wei^hc h i a plus

the trough f i l l e d with concrete was too great f o r the ampa bdquojcr on cabie

and one parted tipping the trough concrete aie herb poundrbdquo iag Herb

f e l l on a pile a t water l e v e l anu gtampu his bacK nro en It 1 oog gtn surshy

vived more than a year 1 raquo died uxtJ i ^ e s barxeu bull Royaj Cots sh-iy torgt

I l o s t s f r i e n d whose Msmry v-iij iox ltbullraquoraquo he v i t t it id whose

-31-

guidance and superior knowledge helped jae beyond words at a period of my l i f e when proper guidance was v i t a l hut not u n t i l later years apprecishyated lyXj^

Several times during the autism or 1 6 Mother mentioned the fact that the Canaiian Iforthwest raquo s very iiaeitiy populated ana -oudered whether i t was the land of opportunity for if- a i t l a j ee^n for SOKC

others she had known who had gone tnere years teore t iacav- of a friend of ours had just returnc-u trot therlt far a visit aai eade arrangements to raeet this stan buaday evening at the hosse of our friends He was a c i v i l engineer and pictured for us a very rosy picture of the opportunities in this new country M-trier -crseaf gtantej co ae --at ve

were to decide for her She relied on the iaatare judf-jampeat and decision of us kids and before we knew wlaet had liappeaed we had ssortgaged oar home and were on the way

The experiences we had on t is t r i p a-ont could fy- a âoh but I certainly will not go into detail except to say we arreeaaj a-ich at our old home about Apr i l 25 1 bullgt I vas twelve years old ia raquoe a i l f e l t asbassed of our failure he f e l t disgraced i a the ty e of oer friends and relatives My younger brott er started hack ao aeauca My obdquodltr

brother was fourteen in February A neighbor George Krueger aha was a foreman in the local batton vorks via hosebtan Buttea Ceây came to our house with bis sister one eveau^ to pay c i v i e l i bulllaquo- i--au he

3 2 -

could u s e 1 two boys i n b i s deportment i f be c o u l d g e t t r ni aded two

to r e p l a c e two g i r l s nao were working in there I was co ha to o to

work rather than f a c e t h e kids at s c h o o l l i e bdquoolaquosirr igt-ur aioa I was

too young he t h o u g h t I was o l d e r I n those J o i t wac- c c ^ a a 5ary to

attend school until t b e age o f fourteen a t vj age torn wi 1 c c h i l d r e n

sought employment and o n l y the c h i l d r e n o f p a r e n t s o f the acre a e a l t k y

class commenced high scaool He smid that maybe I c o a l d g e t working

papers I asked him where and he said maybe t h e aayor could aeip

f h e i m y o r a t that t i i a e v a s Mr Id beaa~aa sou of tlaquor Joe

Seagram t h e f o u n d e r o f the Seafract 0i8tilicrjuamp P r e v i a ni pound ad been

a newspaper carrier for both the Seagram f a m i l i e s and t a ^ h s i a back

d o o r a c q u a i n t a n c e b u t I d e c i d e d t o see Mr Seagram 1 v t t t e d i ius

o f f i c e the next i s o r a i a g u n t i l he a r r i v e d On h i s a r r i v a I ary story

He s a i d t h i s was a n issue too urge f o r h i a t o p a s s yuujaâa aa s a t adshy

v i s e d me to return a t noon v-uen I arrived t h e r e at neon a habdquo -ibre-e

o f t h e town c o u n c i l i n h i s o f f i c e aad 1 r e p e a t e d raquoey s t o r y The t r i e d

to persuade me to reconsider haa 1 -as d o i a ^ i ventja^ h i a 1 eigraa

had a e p r o m i s e I would go t o n i g h t schooj f o r three y e a r s 1 gnve a i m

t h a t p r o m i s e and on A p r i l 3--a iygtf a y brother t h e n fourteen aad e i y s e l f

t w e l v e but due t o be t h i r t e e n i i three weeks s t a r t e d laquovloyaena i n the

dye rooat at y$ an h o u r My f i r s t - pav m s 4-1 i VI f o r one Y1 rjonch A

o u r tiae ltgtf hiring we d i d n o t Know t a a t t h e g i r l s ad rtuylaquoGvltu - t r a n s f e r

o w i n g t o t h e f i l t h y l a n g u a g e used by four ijer t-at d e p a r u laquo n t

bullbull3ampe Roiohaan Button Company at tbat time manufactured pearl and vegetable ivory buttons the latter being made from the f r u i t or

nut of the Coroza Palm Tim pearl buttoncopy were made from fresh watermdash Mississippi Rivermdashshells as well as from tropical salt water shells the latter a very much more colorful and costly button 1 stayed with

the Rosehaan Company for twenty-one months When I l e f t 1 was operating a polishing machine which required me to handle each button individually

and for which I received three-quarters of one cent for every l6o buttons polished My pay averaged about 5 a day Co one occasion I -was fined or docked $2 for burning the edges of buttons during the polishing operashy

tion I had the buff wheel set too l ow which removed the dye froa the outer rim of black buttons making the edge look brown

Roschmans was an ideal place for a boy o f thirteen to work for there were other kids there a l i t t l e older but with the same ideas for mischief and the same ideas as to how t o get out of doing the work

assigned to thea My Xoremns namreg was B i l l Grosz He was an old friend of the family hut nevertheless could lower the boom i f necessary and he often found i t necessary Our favorite place t o play was on the third floor and insofar as the roof met the floor at the outer walls

only the center of the building was high enough to work i n Tm outer spaces were being used for storage Although the building was made of brick i t was very old and rats had established themselves i n colonies We used to lay i n wait up there i n the semidarkness trying to swat thea

-3^-

with a stick or M t thea by throwing a heavy shell We fiii aot dare

to stay very long at a time but occasionally would meet oar foreman as

he caste looking for us

There were many girls working there for about i l a day and

during the afternoon I would sneak out- the hack door and go t o a candy

store on the next street to get thea a five-cent o-ch of cariCij- Of course

I always received a half cents worth of candy for iay trouble

The dye room in which I iiSd started had a tear of four fellows

there who had worked together several years and they were loaded with

tricks to play on new help

We a l l wore black sateen shirts laquoouci gtas eomuov as I vie

shirts were not yet i a common use- as a work O-irt One hay bdquo our o f

the fellows arrived at work wearing bo t i e s 11is vas prearranged

by thea and I was to be the goat and of course I t i t toi i iae that

Strauasera were giving free bow ties away the lay hefore 1 uxc ed for

aore information At hast the foreman suggested that insofar as I did

not get i n on the free ties he would turn his back and X could sneak out

the back door Be raquo 1 4 he hosed that they s t i l l were f r e e that day eo

I departed

Straussers a s our local gents furnishing store he store

was narrow and long and Leslie iiaoke the clerk approached tie w en 1

entered and 1 told him ay mission lit had no knowllt-dge of aty f-ee ties

being given away so lie laughed I departed vith a face as red as a beet

realising I had been taken i n Before X wac entire iy out oi f i t store I

heard Hawke telling Strausser te joke and they box- I a e d BQ~J irxgtre

I was already out of the store when I heard acsaeone holier hoy kiov I returned and Mr Strauseer liad ue repeat uy olt ory He ocuAcu vna asked

sue what the ties bullwere like tbat they were wearing

I said fhe kind that hook on the collar button

He p i l l e d out a display rack and said ike ohoso

I said Yes

He said Pick yoursoil out three ci -lose frocopy and we laquo 1 1 1

teach your pais a lesson

I departed with three free sew ties but upon return to the

department could not convince the feliows tgta aiye-d the trios me that

I got them free Incidentally for two or thru years Knore t v s happened

I lad mowed the lawn at Mr Straussers JKJDH and c knew alt auiti eii

Another time we were B i t t i n g around xn t t c dye uopeirtii--ic daring

the noon lunch period and someone 3ugpf3ted playing iiue e 0frac34- raquoi fellow

by the name of Guenther ws requested to leave the rooa and nov to peep lie

left the room and they even posted anotoer one of t h e fc u sure

Guenther couldnt see where the- egg was being bidder 10017 pxaeo that

was suggested did not please the foreran he kept saying f 0y j o l l find

i t there right away

Soon the guard at the door said Here coses Guc-athor nos

In the meantime the fellow with the ray egg was next tj a new

boy wearing a heavy can Ife q u i c k l y l i f t e d t h i s boys cap araquod pat tbe

egg on his beau and the cap over i t 1he f t - i i c - protest bull t i-c not

catch o n Guenther entered and then roaaaea around the roou ltaJulaquoig a

pretense that he didnt kno vbdquoere the egg bull1-1 been hiduVi Grauualiy

he got behind this boy and h i t hia on the ead 01 coarse t-e icy Imshy

mediately l i f t e d his cap and the reaalus of the a n c i e n t egg r a n dowa

h i s neck

I had scarcely s t a r t e d a t the button works when they took an

inventory The method used vas t o count oat H yrcuss and t aaa and

then calculate the number by the weight of a g r o s s Their eeaci eamptions

must have been very accurate because they scoa d i s c o v e r e d soeear-e lad

slipped and the figures didnt -igrec- I aao ut-ei ojt o f e c O 0 L araquouy a

few months and kaev a gross was one hundred and f o r t y - f o a a hc-ver I

was the guilty party as a button gross during raquowicxlaquorjraquog process i s

one hundred and sixty -which cos-pensates for dajsa laquoo and c L e orlng

processing Blaring t h i s i n v e n t o r y I ajse currM-d undr^-us 0 1 gross of

buttons to the river bank and b-iried them there hka Rvtocham -ir Ad

done this t o get r i d o f antique hattous 1 a t a o f t e n wclaquodcred 1 that

hoard had ever been dug up and aad u aether tee tut bono would ue valuable

as antiques now

The Boschaan brothers both of o l d country German stock vere

very different In temperament and s t a t u r e hichard the i d i r -as short

sedate and had a lew pleasant v o i c e He d i d aot spend a l l of ius time i n

-3~

shops Budolpih the younger waa t a l l lanky and hanky and he was a

dynamo for getting around He was always ready to lay down the law to us aany young ones who were always getting into trouble Shore were time when my machine would aot function p r o p e r l y during this tiae we either made pearl ornaments oat of the expensive t r o p i c a l shells or wandered around keeping o thers froa work On mm occasion 1 found a

pair of cardboard boxes that f i t t e d over ay shoes and didnt f a l l off

while walking I applied these to ay shoes and the girls were getting a big kick out of seeing ay antics However i n turning a corner 1 ran head-on into Mr Budolph Boackaan and for soae reason he didnt get a laugh out of i t Everyone i n the room who previously had been laughing

was now very seriously at work It was the custom that at least once a year a traveling minstrel

show would play our town On this occasion on leaving the plant a t

twelve noon we heard the ausic of the oinstrel iiad t decided to go over the extra block as I liked uusic and didnt want t o sates any free show or parade Hie solo trumpet player was laving trouble keeping a small sheet of march music attached to h is instrument and I offered to hold i t for hia and he accepted I stood there for one selection then

another aad another Soon 1 copypeculated on the chance t h a t 1 m have

earned a free pass to the show When they decided that tus ooac r t was over I received no reward and furtheraore i t was too atlaquo than to go home for lunch 1 went back to work but was t h r i l l e u Mj saving heard

-38-

t h e m u s i c

f h e processes and methods o f b u t t o n m a n u f a c t u r e vert J c r e s t i n g

to one o f an i n q u i s i t i v e mind I l e a r n e d cuca u these -veaty-ealaquo months w h i c h a e l p e d i n l a t e r y e a r s J u s t a fev y e a r s ago t r i e s u b j e c t o f s p r a y

p a i n t i n g and s a n d b l a s t i n g v a s a t o p i c o f c o n v e r s a t i o n anoug a s f - u l g r oup

I was i n I t o l d thess that i n 1 9 0 7 I had eees p l e n t y of s p r a y p a i n t i n g

a p p l i e d t o b u t t o n s a s well a s s a n d b l a s t i n g fee l a t t e r mamp used i n t h i s

manners A f t e r seme b u t t o n s have been p o l i s h e d to a h i g h g l o s s a p l e a s a n t

contrast c o u l d be a t t a i n e d by c o v e r i n g a p o r t i o n o f t h e b u t t o n aad s a n d shy

b l a s t i n g a p o r t i o n u s u a l l y t h e c e n t e r p o r t i o n g i v i n g a c h t i l and a

smooth p o r t i o n o n each b u t t o n Tae s a n d b l a s t e a c a i a e a l s o was -raquo t h e

t h i r d f l o o r o f the b u i l d i n g d i r e c t l y above the shop o f f i c e o f It- R u d o l p h

Roschaan The l a d y who o p e r a t e d t h i s u a c l e i u e amp8 v e r y v e r y ibae s k i n n e d

She and h e r husband l a d j u s t r e c e n t l y aovei e a t a e a r to t o a JJBC uust t v o d o o r s f r o m o u r s l i e v a s q u i t e d a r k anu aa t h e c-Kuetetcrisexcs o f a

H i n d u I n walking back and f o r v t o ork oae co-jd not gtJL r e a c q u a i n t e d

vith tnose you saw f o u r times a day u n l e s s i t unamp one^s i a e aa t o a v o i d

m a k i n g a c q u a i n t a n c e s T h i s vomar raquoau a d e c i d e d l a g l i s i ecc-at aad i n s o f a r

a s I was one o f t h e f i r s t i n t o a n t o know h e r e 1 was paupcb uobull and t h e n

by t h o s e n o t so f o r t u n a t e a s t o t h e i r background I f I coned tne s u p p l y

t h e answer i l a t e r oa made a n e f f o r t t o g e t i t

D u r i n g one o f t h e s e p e r i o d s i n q u e s t o f i n f o r m a t i o n I met two

o t h e r k i d s up t o s o a e mischief a s t h e y were e n t i r e l y o u t o f bounds a l s o

One thing l e d to another and soon ve -ware t r y i n g t o outdo mch o ther i n

l i f t i n g bags of sandblast sand One of us l i f t e d the hay so hif bullbull i t

seemed a record hat his grip bull akeaud and the 1-4( dropped to u bull floor

with a thud that made trie old tiubers raquojniver Ve kneu this- was am time

to disband bat alas our on ly earis o f e x i t was by way o f ooe ntairway

One of us ran for a place t o h ide (we Knew r a n ) The otney fobdquoioo and

myself started down the stairs hut l a - Buooiph Boechaan waa eouing up

three steps at a time U met h a l f wuy and m wao a sighii 11raquo- years

accumulation o f dust on the coiling and exposed beams Uw eoook -oose

and he and his office were a uss

There i s another o c c a s i o n 1 narroviy escaped having a o t less

than twenty-one copyoa ths s e r v i c e t o ay c r e d i t A f e l l o w eipoyet who

although not 8frac341- foreman but vbose authority I r e spec t ed sent ao down to

the machine shop for a Vinkle I s a (Isa i n German iearss i r o n 1 had

heard of this joke bat p layed 0101frac34 with hi and asked rhafc does I t

look l i k e

l e said M I t s r i g h t msidu the door ai l tampamp - raquo 0 ltoec i n i t

I went to the machine ohop and t o hi sj app ren t i ce p a l and

evidently he was not whole heartedly i n l o v e vrrh the joker c i t h e r he

soon found an Iron bar with one h o l e i n i t Hi- suggested ^ r r i b j y one end

plenty aad that I take i t back holding onto the c o l d end Trie took a

l i t t l e time and soon ay foreman was looking f o r mo AS usual oe met

and insofar as my Job of buff hog hut-tons did not r e q u i r e a ovo-foot long

i r o n b a r he a s k e d q u e s t i o n s I s c i i i n g i y r e v e a l e d ay a l s s L o u i o p i n g n e

w o u l d g o a l o n g w i t h t h e J o k e t - u h e was n o t a w n s e o I n s t e a d he o r d e r e d

a e t o r e t u r n t h e b a r w i t h one- end l o t t o t h e o a c h i a e shoe a a i ae g e t b a c k

t o w o r k

f h e power f a r o u r a a c a i n e s wns f u r r a s b e u b y a e u e a n o v j i n e

a n d w i t h b e l t i n g t r a n s p o r t e d jiayfuon t o a l l tlaquo rvlt f l o o r s aad bafrfajent

w h e r e l i n e s h a f t s o n t o p a n d u n d e r l o n g b e a c h e s f u r n i s h e d the power f o r

individual aachines I n s o f a r as xaueh t h r e a d was u s e d f o r s e a l n e b u t t o n s

o n t o c a r d s e a p t y s p o o l s were p l e n t i f u l hceasteiaits t h e y u e r u v e r y ranch

i n demand when soae employee- v a s a s k i n g a a o a l i t a b l e o r w uuej-i with

thecopy a t hone H o w e v e r 1 aad s p o o l s revolving xr e laquo a y ways u n d e r a y

b e n c h d r i v e n b y s t r i n g s a n d r u b b e r b a n d s froa s a i n l i n e s r a f t s and c o n shy

s i d e r i n g the aany tiaes 1 eitsshefi among t h i s r t v o l v i a g a a e h a a e r y 1 a s now

s u r p r i s e d I was n o t baajy e u r t

W h i l e w o r k i n g a t t h e button works I s p e n t c o n s l d e r m l e - tiae i n

t h e i r s m a l l m c l i i n e s h o p a n d was q u i t e f r i e n d l y a i t r the a p e r e a e ^ c e t h e r e

Me w o u l d o c c a s i o n a l l y l e t roe o p e r a t e t a e d y j l l pia a s t o r e c o u n t - a d o r e t h e

t w e n t y - t w o c h u c k s u s e d o a ay e w e h i a e w h i c a aeâi tee c u t - o n e e h _ t e being

poilshed I was g e t t i n g i d e a s a b o u t b e c o r e i a y a eaiehinaa

b e h a d a s h o p o n M a i n S t r e e t w h i c h aanraquoifactnraquooa eterea and gasoshy

line- e n g i n e s and g r a i n s e p a r a t o r s as w e l l a s d o i n g a l i t l a e jobbing

w o r k I was f o u r t e e n a t t h i s t i n e aad a p p i i e - e for eupXayajeat ae- a n a p p r e n shy

t i c e t h e r e a n d was t o l d t h e r e e e r e so o p e n i n g s

lt4l~

Soon thereafter I was told by anotaer had tbat e taa getting

85 a day at a shoe factory 1 applied tbera alaquou vas accepted to start

work tbe following Monday so I quit tee sjttou works oa gtrlaay iigbt

Mr Martin at tbe shoe factory bapretssed upon GO tac isiportance ai keeping

jay word and emphasized the fact teat ea wo -id consider t-e job aa f i l l e d

and would refuse to see other applicants Saturday nooe ay orataer came

home froa work aad mid the superintendent at tee aterioo aau ifeeturing

Coapany makers of steam and gasoline tractors bull aa reco tdua red eiy applishy

cation as apprentice and wanted to tali to ae further -aiterday afternoon

1 signed up as apprentice for a period of three years to eorb three thoushy

sand hours per year My salary was to be -gt a aonth hwmtv a corns ma

to be paid to ae at the end of oae yearmdashcent1-- at tut en of the second

year i t would be 6frac34 and the tad of t i e third year V-1

After feigning the agreement aa apprentice I loae oaabated to

go to Mr Martin and t e l l beta ay cllaquonge in plans Je aade eeraquo lass

about i t I was sorry I had gone to tell a i s and s t i i l oader ay a

would have been to work for i tender what aiad cf a leas a- to Id have

aade on Monday morning lad 1 not had the eoaraa-) to apo-ogl-5lt i o r my changed plans

On January ^5 I started work there Xecidcaa bdquoy the

superintendent Mr longhurst eas te eaae -Arson we-o ia lba- ad accused

lay father Of being disloyal to the coapany and ead cause-J i Le te Leave

their employ to go to work at ltiea bullfeeabuyg Insofar as i ees a ntertise

and the days short ay f i r s t veek was spent H o l d i n g a caudle fox- a journey-man who was assembling some east iron foraamp Ive rachine a op vnraquo about sixty feet by one hundred feet and wae lighted onIy ay six or eiyht are lamps mounted h i g h ap near A d i r t y ceiling aod casdlell^vt van eonoon

among employees Soae old timers ho were told ry identity coax- to we and told ae of having worked w i t h ay father and In years uf er I heard considerable about methods or tools introduced bgt h l ta that vezce s t i l l i n use One fellow told laquos ay f a t h e r was Instrumental in having vio-ie quite a few Machine reamers OOo larger thur standard Ivese- were use- to ream

hole pulleys so tbat the saae w o u l d be free t o slide over s t a t i d u r d shaftshying

luring ay apprenticeship 1 d id aot see uiXj laquoi i^priuts bdquoior did I use any micrometers However by attending nig1 SCJJOO- 1 gtecagti acshy

quainted with blueprints liiicroraeters various types oi Ursu usfy mthe-

aatics and eventually algebra and geometry -iter scvco-ai uuors of this i decided to enter a class teoa 14 -usinuuc ampgjtraquo - Ins far as

ay brother had signed up with ICS hating a course in stctsa aad t ltectjrical engineering I studied hie M a t e r i a l hut he sent n the answtrs aad eventualshyly received a diploma from them I sent abo4 poundit amy ooh rec ved a course of study called Bykes Automobile Course Taxreg included a set of working models by uhieh one could see the uorfclngs of valves aad pistons by means of operating a small e r a

1 paid my aother $Tyt a month board a id suppjnueoted ay income

by various means in ay spare timemdashone being tlaquoe janitor of a local band

assembly l i a l i from which I received f-2o a vorXn plus occasions tips

I was furnished with a unifon cap and free vu P i t t a n c e -bull0 0) A lections in which the band participated including i c e sleatlag 1 a l s o Mashed cars aowed lawns and sharpened s k a t e s

Îtiiie a a apprentice 1 was helping a journeyman straighten shafts and while working together we talked as well as worked Dunn o u r t a l k s

he mentioned that the coapany we were w o r k i n g for disposev oh old ihresning machines taken in on trade by selling then to employees for 1 evch Uiis

I could not believe but was sucker enough to uto to the office and find out Mr Idwin Snyder the contact saa in tie offiee referred to a

Mr John Snider in t h e shop I fas siKteen -laquohen and old uot teac bull the

function Lug of a l l the parts of - thresher uiw vho raquog t of ltbull t cper fence

I would get tearing one apart lit Snider waa s t a n d i n g oue wr on 1 apshy

proached and in stature was eaampily six feet throe- inches and vciamphed

about 250pounds I lad never heard hie talk English so directed ay question to him In Geraan 1 van smtll and -au not j e t e sanded v o i c e

He answered in German Sure zuuj sell thea f o r i each 0 0 ULtoy ao you

wantbull

I answered o i s t i l l thinking it laquoau a j o k e

Ife asked ae where 1 wanted then d e l i v e r e d and 1 answered The

east side of the house

fhis had all happened since -loon an- ~y a o t h e r mamp not consulted

We had a nice lawn as did our other neighbors 1 s t i l l could not believe

these would be sold to ae f o r $X as they were at l eas t trenty~f Ivo to

t h i r t y feet long e ight or nine feet high and about eight or nim feet

wide However at six that night i got within a block of ncut a-d saw

the t a i l end of ampn ungodly looking thresher project ing o h i a float of

the row of houses fhe c o l o r was a faded regtd wttfc stripes c f yeîow and

blue I was pleased but as you aigi t expect aother and ts a^hbors

were not

It took ae aonths of evenings to dismantle thea aad I aad

skinned shins cat filacers and bruised knuckle- Insc-iar lta i realized

how I had disgraced the nelgldsorbood I kept at i t I -waa v e i l paid i n shy

deed for the experience I received 1 a lso die well f i n a n c i a l as 1

knew the di f ference between bronze babbit cast iron aad stecx and

endd up with better than $20 which I received for Material said I

also had a nail key f u l l of bolts and nuts l e f t The fraae was aide of

oaple which helped us i n build xng a back porch foae of t-t screening

m s used for chicken fencing and aany -aore parte aere put tc us- but I did

have a lawn to repair

fixe aiugtps i n those days did not sake aueh e f for t to t-aeh the

apprentices a l l operations on abdquoL jaachines and only by v cching others

could one get ideas and experience One tine I requester a foreman to

allow ae to operate a certain machine that was aaa i n use t at day as

the operator waa absent Be said i f I learned t o opcruu a jt w e l l

operating a i l other machines would Just come natural

Apprentices in t h o s e dnys ere called spon to io s Jk s o r t s of

c h o r e s and to r u n errands a s wou a s eelpiic i n the fourxav T + u was

i n t e r e s t i n g b a t dirty and h o t and oi course IJtew by ootie wd uot by

others brother ws a b o i i e r m k e r apprentice but -iad ACI a -aed any

agreement such as I had After two years he aah-ed for a rasfc bull to the

test depaytaent where a l l e n g i n e s v e r e given x d)naacuetvr i o s t ^-di adshy

justed Just prior to painting and d e l i v e r y h i s superior a laquod ie only

other man i a t h i s department VHO required t c -ear dolbie t) idsbullbull38 lens in his eyeglasses ana at tbat ore t i d e s laquoe seeded t o t e riving trouble

s e e i n g p r o p e r l y

bull One evening ve saw a new steara tractor T I T S O M V M raquoater

wagon aiming away froa town amp aan and a farmer -ere e - bull raquo i s

I t was a beautiful sight and a i seeded vexi e i i e e p t tat v-er mdash i s one aore s a l o o n t o pass They stopp e d h e r e ltuat a t dusk 7 o uasct corning

upon a r r i v a l a t work a t six f o r t y - f i v e there opened tu e o i V i S a i a c t i v i shy

t y and Mr Longhurst a c a r was a t t h e a a c M n e ogt orj d o o r Iv a one of t h e few c a r s in town and f o r several years had l a c stjuk see-jiooond car

Sferee aachinists got into the c a r with t h e i r tools and hr 0 0 frac34 jrst d r o v e off At eight that isaanaiag t h e l o c a l trsu r t i o wbdquo ha t raquoeu

did n o t a p p e a r We f o u n d o u t that i n attempting t o oebdquolvsr t - i - t h r e s h i n g

o u t f i t a t n i g h t t h e faraer and t h e o p e r a t o r hod i istakon t-o r ltlroad t r a c k s f o r t h e r o a d and had gone a ways op the track when a gear broke

and l e f t thea stranded Although- the road crossed the track at aa angle

i t did seen strange that a mistake of this caZior could five he aade

1 continued to work at aix types of t oh3 and te ahxi appen

had ay fingers cut As ao f i r s t aid vas aval La it some ieiêes - ad a

bottle of iodine in their toou boxes and woalts udaiiuoter H e -urges

brothers George and henry also ad a smlo lot tit of eegteaec ( lquid)

i n their tool boxes and were considered t i e aye spoeealicaa or e two

floors Occasionally one would yet aa e a r y raquo e o i spark i u wei eye and

sometimes leave i t i n overnight teen a drop of exaeê- ih a bull t e deadened

i t to Bach an extent taat Marges couad cut the place of ercay we of the

eyeball with a sharp jackkaife

Insofar as electric was not ~n cotaaon use thea i i sy rother

or myself would discover we lad emery m our eye at night a utad go

to the home of Jack Joyce who uao the eye special i t t i n f e bull oi-^r shop

hut had no cocaine at acme ie eould go to tae corner or reaj tie

would hone his knxfe on the knee of eis paat leg and tee-a p -X tee blade

in his mouth for sterilising as Mrs Joyce raquosis there a eh frac34frac34 en hand

he would wedge ay bead (or ay brothers head) Into tae corner of aa

room and cut out the emery Has vas painful eat neveramphulcas oipfuI

In the morning the eye would be almost norsssu agaia

Insofar as our entire shop was powered by one large i a gt horseshy

power steam engine which furnished power to a l l enits b- belt a someshy

times became necessary for apprentices to pall the belts oa iaa-a ridual

a a c l i i a e s f o r several sours a f t e r q u i t t i n g t i n e -lttlaquoa the engine was i n shy

a c t i v e a s i t n o t s e e s economical to ran a Large tatjia and -11 the

l i n e s h a f t i n g t o o p e r a t e one machine I f a tat he was t o gt used i n t h e

evening we apprentices would p i l e up ooxes fore arid a f t of ltead stock

and t h e n s t a n d o n p i l e d up b o x e s Vhile one pulieu uotaward t h e o t h e r

one upwards T h i s was a d i r t y job and ha r d work but we seeued to enjoy I t a s we were a l w a y s laughtng and we were getting 3-i3f an hour f o r

the f u n we Were l a v i n g

19QS

A f t e r o u r return f r o a t n e C a n a d i a n noru and pound alti etart-ed t o

work the L u t h e r a n p r e a c h e r r e b e l l e d aoout 1frac34 not h a v i n g been cc-atinaed

to the L u t h e r a n f a i t h w h i l e attending s c h o o l i4ateer t r i e d to e--plain

t h a t e v e n t s were n o t p l a n n e d ans indeed a r e also sorry a j bull0 o u r

p l i g h t However he c o u l d a o t be- convinced so we severed connections

w i t h t h e L u t h e r a n C h u r c h mdash n o t because of our d i s b e l i e f i n i t s t e a c h i n g s

b u t b e c a u s e o f t b e preachercopy attitude and the remark he had sade that he

would n o t confirm anyone i a English

b r o t h e r and bull1 J o i n e d t h e Sunday School c lass which herb

Klippert a t t e n d e d The t e a c h e r was a i t r l i t e r Gies eeo sossetine eefore

we knew h i a had bad one l e g amputated This cmx waa a b o a t t a i r t y - f i v e

then and was an ideaj leader ae- teac er ii - j u t t l e )frac34 of

the tovas youtr insofar as e e eas julaquo-trri--o 1 0 agt a- bullbull a t o i i f a

were o c c u p i e d i n t r y i n g to h e l p us loca contractor eid put a h i s

-48-

disposal a small building which was one tiae a aodel hoae but- slightly altered and then used- as an o f f i c e f o r a contracting business but was now vacant Mr flies had hoped to use this as a yoath center We his class students contributed 5 a week toward i t s ualntent-uice and he

furnished the balance

One Sunday earning while attending Sunday School class a boy by the name of San Mitchell entered our room Baa had heen around town

several years and whenever there me trouble flan was there fie and his father a plumber in town l ived at the last-cS anct gttgt i Ve knew nothing of their past Dan vas between sixteen aau twe^ lt-ars old and we never knew hia to be employed as al l we other kids over fourteen

were Dans appearance at Sunday School soon -hah the effect we kids expected Mr flies hod aade a s p e c i a l effort to get this hoy into h i s Sunday School class hoping for a Miracle to raquowppea Instead (as Ban was a born clown) the class soon became a iaivhic^ ualienee for Ban Mitchella

antics Dan was strong likable quite an acrobat and could take nore

bumps and bruises than anyone could imagine Be aecjaed to he immune t o

pain Our gatherings a t the club house or youth center soon too- oa new significance he had plenty of c h a i r s and A few tables for tarse games l i k e dominoes and checkers Several fe l lows raquoa secured keys ai-h soon the house was open at a l l hours and the group was forced o in bull gtnd Lor oovLuus reasons

I was there one Sunday when ikxn was iaaye One rooa hah been

built i a the center of the bouse with aa opening to a h a l l s i i a i l a r to

a ticket sales window In f a c t the employees of the contract ing company

had receives their pay envelopes through t h i s window The s i l l was

about four feet from t h f loors nevertheless fen eould take a running

Jump go through this window and f a l l onto the f l o o r i n the nest room

without getting hurt The chairs were wired for e l e c t r i c shock aad one

was never sure what was coming next Mr dies could not always attend

but 1 believe he saw the f u t i l i t y of keeping order and the entire project

collapsed fo Mr Gles d e l i g h t I am sure Dan M i t c h e l l l e f t the Sunday

School class and order again returned

That winter we had a t r a v e l i n g s o r i n g picture play in our town

for several evenings Somehow 1 got enough aoney together to he admitted

and during the evening found myself seated next to Baa Mitchell l e soon

found aa excuse to request we change seats which I did Ife kept aoving

along always talking to someone a distance away On leaving the auditorium

that night I found a glove had teen removed f r o a each of ay two coat pockets

The next- night 1 went to the outside of the auditoriua and waited for Ban

when we set face to face he threw the gloves at ae However they were

so badly torn that they were no longer of any aso to as Ban had a face

you couldnt forget and on several occasions I have seen t i o vi-bdquoh carnivals

and shows around Detroit the l a s t tiae being about iy^h when ax the Michigan

State f a i r Grounds He was teased up with a k i c k i n g mi le i n an act in

which he was s t i l l getting- plenty of bru ises

-50-

The traveling ssovle shown at that time was called the Passion

Flay Local talent iad teen r--crui--ei to re a-i-r i ne i-us- -nJ ocal

v o c a l i s t s to do the singing Our town had a live-cent avûSG-LO jovie

theater called the fheatoriue which opened on 3ew Years Cay - As

an added a t t r a c t i o n illustrated songcopy were quite eo^ricu tno poundlt-bulllaquo ltired a

local pianist and also a vocalist Ths words of popular songs vore pro-

4ected onto the screen which ailaquoo helped raquos less fortunate onei- to

meworize the l y r i c s as well as the words A l o c a l iauy vocaiiot was

thusly employed in t h i s theater but when she appeared on tiie stage of

the Town S a i l a t the showing of the Passion Play she became ae stage

frightened as anyone could he and ran o f f the stage i n tears

Curing January my Uncle Johnny bought an old oar (as i a ) I t

was a oneCylinder Qlm of Canadian aake called the LeRoy am o h i s

regret he found out that the cylinder wall was cracked After careful

consideration he decided to disc-arc the e x i s t i n g engine and insi-4Li a new

one which he ordered from Chicago 7-1(5 new engine was a tvo cylinder

Continental opposed and upon i t s arrival i t was found necessary to reshy

build the entire chassis i n order to install i t He encouraged m to

team up with ftlraquo i n t h i s work g i v i n g me the l i n e that 1 -would learn a

lot which I surely did The picture X have showing the car with license

nuaber 328 for 1913 mist have been taken just p r i o r to h is s e l l i n g i t

as at t h i s tiae I already had been here inJDetroifc

- 5 1 -

In s t a r t i n g tae c a r t o f i r e t cut the c h a s s i s i t two jnd with

heavy p l a t e s 12 x 2 x 3 feet 1 0 frac34 fastened oa the i n s i d e o f t a- cuannei

frame ve lengthened the frasae eighteen Inches Then using tee tame

r a d i a t o r and f r o n t aad r e a r axuea we installed a -ica jaeaaaait araquod d i f f e r shy

e n t i a l and e v e n t u a l l y s t a r t e d ha-Hdiue a aa t octy egtia crk gtsamp a a i

done i n the o l d uarn on the Mieihe hua-steaa jsiue a aeaeaa f o r -ifM

aad a kerosene heater f o r heat h o l e s were dri-^cai usira a rate et d r i l l

and o i q roan a l l hand power Old saa i s a bar arrangeaeat -ereby when

propeny clamped i t can be used to c r e a t e presoure oa a dribdquo - -an used

w i t h a ratchet t o o l i n s o f a r aa a t t h i s vork ad to be dove ay argtd

and i n spare t i a e only the year ia-laquo gtHB sa-tn -artie and e u o t a r i n t e r s

work was ahead o f us

In the autumn o f lpound L D r laaanu paraaseu a rer -a -tode t

Mclaughlin Buick so our i n t e r e s t s d r i f t e d t o tltamp new e a r i a e o i xv

Dr Batman was the Mxexke faiai d o c t o r Ja- tiy tas area to ~otagt after

the car and I i n t u r n accodparaed Jo mny araquost of the t L se ~a uc as

now p a r t i a l l y deaf 1 was calico ie e a r s

By i l l ae rad our r e a i d e l e d c a r rcalaquojy t o use -e iltaltlt no top

or windshield and never d i d gt one but aad a few t r i p s to re luives

who l i v e d w i t h i n ten a d l e s o f us Insofar -is Jo 1 aay and I l^veu a t

opposite ends o f town I always -ad q-iiae a i a gt ao got t -are I e engine

vas i n the c e n t e r o f the c a r under the seat an the s t a r t aie eraak -was a t

the s i d e o f the c a r igty i l i i tae Model T l u r d was geetiag peny of

-52-

magazine publicity so we more o r less f e l t our c a r was o b s o l e t e v i t h a

tvo-cylinder e n g i n e

1 d o h o w e v e r remember a few trips vwlaquo- with t h i s c a r b u t

n e v e r drove i t ayself On one occasion we h a d j u s t g o n e s i s m i l e s f r o a

home ( o u r d e s t i n a t i o n ) a a d o n s t o p p i n g t h e car t h e o d o r o f b u r n i n g o i l

was v e r y e v i d e n t After about a two hours v i s i t we p r e p a r e d t o l e a v e

but the starting crank seeaed s o l i d a n d o n l y a f t e r c o n s u i s r hr effort did

we get going and reach home My u n c l e a l t h o u g h one o f f t coiuvry s beet

m e n n e v e r carried A l t h o u g h xu was n o t g i f ted bull11- a n y a s amp e t s c a u s i n g

any ladies to swoon he neverthe ess o v e o bull0 1-- bull t o pltgt_lt laquo3laquo t - i t c is

hard-of-hearing which i n later years caused t o t a l deafness

On a n o t h e r o c c a s i o n ve were o u t r i U i i ^ o n a Swhiay -01--113frac34 A S

t h i s c a r n e v e r was s i l e n t b e s x d e b t o e noise of ft t w G - c y l l n d o v c- -glue

one eould always hear a certain clatter caused b y t h e c h a i n d r i v e froa

the engine to the Jackshaft a n d then f r o a the Jackshafts t o e a c h wheel

As ay uncle was very d e a f he- - a s nevertheless ueprivci o i tsan noises

and not realizing others could hear we^l he s h o feu otost o f 100 ljat i n

his natural voice As we were driving along several y o u n g l a d i e s were

walking ahead on their way to church Natural L a v e n o t i c e d adies

s t a r i n g at us so Johnny says l lee S i l l y when e waxa tgttc a d ^ o a dont

see us but now when we have a car t h e y c a n t keep their e y e s o f f of u s

I l e t i t go at that and j u s t nodded and s a i l e d b e s i d e s 1 c o u l d not talk

l o u d enough f o r hia t o hear ae anyhow I r e a l l y t h i n k i t was the n o i s e

that caused the ladies to loot 00 laquoay aad tne^ were aot giving a the

glad eye

MM kt t h i s t i a e 1 was fcjsy as an apprentice i n tw machine shop

and spent some evenings t i l t h ay uncle and f r i e n d Together the had

b u i l t two boats in which they had installed e n g i n e and nuny a cruise was

enjoyed by us favored few who were chosen for short r i d e s araano M i l l Pond

Our town then boasted three aai-os Mr M Geagran had a Loecsaohixej Mr

Charles M i l l e r amp Winton and 1frac34 Longbarst oae of unkaova asafo- but -which

required a l o t of getting out arid get t ing under exercise

In the autumn of l y l b Dr - P Baaaan aaafasih a i y l l

model Mclaughlin Buick touring ear aid iiy acle wae chose to igt the

engineer aad repairxaaa He took -ae aside a t oaee and to_d 30 oi the

p o s s i b i l i t i e s of autos i n the future aad suggested 1 tea- up v a e hire i n

i t s care Together we studied i t from end to en- He vas vary deaf then

but a good mechanic and a very capable choice Vhen abator ear lust

around the corner we deflated the t i r o s applied biocke under bota axles

so the t i r e s were clear of the f l o o r and otherwise prepared i t for winter

and eventually had i t covered v i t - i amp l i g h t al ate c l o t h covering During

the winter the Auto Manual was read f r o a cover to cover savemi times

and spring was eagerly looked forward to ea were -h-hae a eta in

freezing weather had passed ve prepared the car f o r sorter $se

1911

Our town did not boost of a gasoline mat tonmdashnot even a curb pimp Our gasoline m a furnished by a local VAr-bltare store vho carried gasoline i n five-gallon containers froc- tbe rear of the amptcon to the car and poured the gas into the tank thrown a ûrgc poundinnol over ier a chamois skin had been stretched for screening of uudesirali outs Jhe town nearby already had a public garage anl insofar as oir ires had just been inflated sufficiently to get to fUs nraquorage the attend nit comshypleted the Inflation with a i r furnished by ~ pover ccarprlaquo ssor foy weich we paid a fee of 23 for four t i r e s

During the suaraer we rarely ventured raorc t=an -ory ies froa home Roads were gravel or dirt and to get by horses wampn a prob-js The customary procedure was to stop the car about 2 0 0 feet f r o ^ to ^preaching horses and allow the driver to dismount and lead the horses t y Ia overshytaking a buggy we usually tooted the a i r horn quite a laquoampys back aad l e t the driver decide the strategy Occasionally a horse or horses would be encountered who displayed l i t t l e concern f o r aytoo

I remember one driver who tied hio eeea of horeos to a fence and l e t us approach slowly while the horses were dancing and ooxny rlaquo5ssured by the driver that there was no danger Then e request- as -laquoo s-op and he stooped over and reached under the ear getting his oanu f j u l ci grease and gasoline He massaged the horses noses vith this ox_y Mjcturc hoping thereby to introduce his horses to the odor of horseless eisrrlages

On Jhly 1 l y l l the denier ho had s o i j or Bampe-an trlte Jtuick

(having been previously contacted) spent the morning with ray uncle and I

making lainor adjustments on the car and informing us farther of i t s c o a p l i -

catlons and temperaaents le then gave us a demonstration of i t s speed

I was at the age of seventeen then aad had the d i s t i n c t i o n of having

traveled f i f t y miles an hour on a gravel road with Mr Itelaoa Good doing

the driving I ms the envy of many a k i d about town

Although 1 spent most of my spare time with the car I charged

Br Batman very l i t t l e f o r sty serv ices getting only the p r i v i l e g e of

d r i v i n g hia and h i s family about on Saturday afternoons and Sundays i n

return I had a uniform cap l i g h t tan duster extending below my knees

leather gauntlets with extremely large c u f f s and goggles mounted on the

cap above the peak Sfecopy car was l i g h t gray In color acetylene l i g h t s

with a tank on the running hoard right-hand drive with a brake and shift

lever outside of the body brass tubing going f r o a tbe radiator base to

the windshield hinge and leather straps f roa the radiator base to the

f a b r i c top

l a t e one Saturday or Sunday the doctor made a professional c a l l t o

the town of St Jacobs Upon our a r r i v a l there a soccer mm was i a proshy

gress It ms no scheduled event but our a r r i v a l there disrupted the

game and resumed again only a f t e r the doctor lad retaraed from making h i s

c a l l and we departed

During the summer the car was i n use aiaost every Saturday and

Sunday when the weather m s f a i r l a August Dr Bauraan sad h i s family

with siy uncle along as the expert took a t r i p to 3ttaaa any returned by

way of Oshawa to get a new spring installed Froa then e-a ta c aitpG aade for repairing rear springs remained wite the car Tgt i s wapound coronashy

tion year as King George V ascended to the British taroee

During the winter I raquoegt taken on extra daties a aeeorang janishytor of the band h a l l and lackey boy for the haudsaea c aciea besides keeping the h a l l clean were to take the music stands and nusiclans

folios to the stand every Friday evening during the- soatser and have thea a l l set up for the evening performance After tae eerforraoee I carted them back to the band 111 again aad had stands set ap and the ats c i n place for Moneay evenings- practice As our band had considerable stuslcal merit in our state and was composed of roughly forty-five isstrwamts

and their h a l l being oa the third floor ay two dollars and f i f t y cents a month condensation was very inadequate indeed However thee connection afforded rae privileges 1 otherwise would have goue without I ate free

admittance to almost a i l of our towns recreatioa events aa ae as as

t r i p s to the B a l i f a i r s and the Toronto poundxiuition 1 a so -eni to the band competition at Barrio Ontario on June 1 imdashCorcviatxor toy At this time our band won the hlglast aoaors notv- ustandiJig tae face traquoat our band leader Professor Paulmdashquite recently froie Geraany (accordxr-g to rumors) mdashms much i n disfavor uiaoag tee patriotic Bitise eaapoundera i s Canada His utterances about town relative to hia pro-ae-râa le-rJLngs

had no doubt traveled considerably

We were away from mterioo asout t irtj - - e i g i t j-ours and during that time many of the bandsmen -ad imbibed too freejy ox t o so-oxx cants furnished by well-wishers As I wae seventeen ti en frac34 observations of

the behavior of these good respectable townspeople under the laquo=uce of liquor have mde a lasting iaprossion i n 2frac34- jgteriarxes however I f e l t highly honored when Professor Paul entrusted we vith is Oliver dipped baton then w e l l dented which he said ampd been handed down for several generations He realized h i s yielding to teampptaticn was joofc amp natter of time aad no doubt his scwe had beer wel l planned i n advance we were detained i a Barrle so that oar a r r i v a l hose would be In the evening a t

which tiae the reception g iven the band surpassed anything to date

Incidentally two years l a t e r Professor Paul faded out of the

picture and we heard he left the country after falling over while conshyducting a concert in a nearby town Me hah eeen taken t o this horaquon by auto and no doubt he and h i s f r iends emptied too may eotties 1212

January 25raquo 1- 12 soon came around and this me supposed to

be the payoff ae three years before j bad eigneo an apprenticeship agree-aent However I was told ths t duriug the throe- years I laquoad an occasional day off sad two weeks off for sickness plus one or too g-vausrs we were excused turday afternoons which totaled l-ess than gt raquo huuro I was obliged to work without any compensation veil into March to c o l l e c t ay $8k bonus which did not please se a tit

-5B~

As was the custom If ao apprentice accumulated sufficient

knowledge and experience during the three years to be retained at a proshy

f i t to the company they were privileged to stay at 1^ an boar or $150

for a tea-hour day 1 bought acre tools with my bonus money and stayedmdash

not too well satisfied with my treatment or with the fact that I felt 1

did not get all-around experience to qualify tae as a journeyman The gasoline tractor business did not fare too well for reasons not known to

ae so therefore my experience was entirely with the making of steam engines

Soae of ay fellow employees had served apprenticeships in a

town two miles away where woodworking Machinery was being manufactured

and their knowledge of machinery seeiaed to surpass mine I worked for

four months then asked the mnager for a 2sect an hoar raise Insofar as I

had not seen any raise after three months I applied for employment Baking

woodworking machinery and vas promised 1frac34^ an hour as a new man iaturally

I got the dirty work in a very cold shop with mchlnes much in need of reshy

pair

I ms there just a month or two when one evening a man came to

our home and offered ae 225 a day to return to jay home town aad work as

a die maker in a brick and tile factory I immediately iaiormed him that I

had no experience whatever at die making ie replied that 1 had been well

recommended araquo8 that this offer ms soaraquowhat above the prevailing rate beshy

cause of someones estimation of sy ability I accepted gladly and was

-59-

soon deeply in tbe problem of fabrication aaa insofar as tea foreman u

a blacjfeaaitih ay problems became ay own 1 continued here u n t i l tbe followshy

ing spring when one morning I found the shop had bees entered and ay box

of tools costing ae sixty hard earned dollars was missing Use araquop owner

to my opinion was negligent by aot having the property properly locked

but he would aot compensate ae for any of my loss ffee tools were never

found so being without a set of tools I f e l t I wanted tc go to hetroit

One reason Has to buy tools cheaper and the other to get into auco manushy

facturing

Ml

My mother had three nrcthers in Roc -eater he lork and soon

(without ay knowledge) she jiad c a t sctsu the- realizing C varaquo ot ltruined

to leave home Prior to ay leaving I had apt lied for a c h a u f f e r s

license and had been approved wnlch r l y l j lt-as quite a novelty - I seshy

cured a recommendation from Dr Uaaman and amp noon OA IX laquoav to kochester

lew York 1 was nineteen then

1 arrived at Rochester Tuesday secured a job vednesda-- and

started to work on Thursday at tbe Morgan Machine Company makers of

printing presses and box-making saachiticrj WHO were located on University

Avenue and- Culver Bead The machine assigned to raquo vas a woodward amp

Powell belt-driven iron planer one of a group of thirteen I hGirded

with ay Uncle Oeorge and Aunt Mary and walked to and f r o i wcrk alf of

the way being along the bank of the old Erie Canal

On oae occasion 1 palled a fellow oaf of the canal at dusk he having misjudged the distance he could copywis This old canal had a tow path on both sides and sales were used to move the barges from place to place Som raules always rested on the barge while others worked at p u l l shying the rope attached to the barge

There was family discord in the house that I was to c a l l home which didnt help my homesickness any My coaler soon detected say trouble in my letters I was offered a job back home in the shop i n which I had learned my trade and was to get gt235 a day while the other foruer apprenshytices were getting $175 a day In aittie aore than a year I aai tawJ three places of employment aad had learned a l o t and ms back now at $235 a day instead of $150raquo I had a set of new tools and a new suit of clothes

My plans now were to forget about tae grass beeag yreeaer on the other side of the fence and to he content with my l o t in l i f e Howshyever having had a taste of American l i f e and surroundings I again was disshysatisfied ana s t i l l regretted the day I ewer went to Rochester instead of

Detroit

Hie winter was soon gone and the saner of 191frac34 was with us On August k Germany and England declared war on each other aM on September h our shop laid off about seventy-five per cent of i t s help ayseif being

among them For the next three months I worked at various occupations

-61-

aasely aster reading for the c i t y of Berlin Municipal steam heating division I also helped mice repairs in the s t e a s i line bullnder t l e street i n Berlin assembled stokers and cleaned holler tabes at t i e heading plant where ay brother was employed tm a steam engineer twelve hours a day seven days a week l a r laquo s the daily subject and soon 1 was enrolled

with our local iOSth Regiment Eooe Guards ami oaviag c o s i s i v k r a l -e time on hand becane quite interested In n i i i t n r y a c t i v i t i e s I seeded to

enjoy the active physical portions of army o m o r t r G

3raquo December l$lk a few local boys vere chosen to participate i n further military studies i n London Ontario for a six-week period

I was among these aad I accepted asostiy becajse of having no employment Previously without giving any thought to what I was doing I -ha-3 made a feeble attempt to enlist i n Princess Pats Bogimeat eighvy--three per cent of which never returned but was rejected uecausc of being TOO

light i n weight and underage Upon completion of their course of study at London my pais enlisted ir a body as raquoas expected auo vsi reason for the schooling mothers pleadings --itv ue kept frac34- frot yining the troops for overseas duty

mi I continued as a corporal i n the Home Guards and took employshy

ment at the Buffalo Forge Company i n Berlin who were then âst getting

underway making shell cases I may have been employed there ai-orw a

month around March of 1915 but soon was back at the old job i n Waterloo

I M s i s what happened t h e a to change is l i f e some a o r e I n

reading o a r d a i l y p a p e r I n o t e d t h a t a Mr B a r n e s was i a O n t a r i o recruitshying machinists f o r a n o v e r s e a s c o n t r a c t o f s i x - m o n t h 1 d u r a t i o n I t h o u g h t

this w o u l d give me a t r i p t o England and hack l a s i x m o n t h s I thought i t was w i t h o u t danger a n d w o u l d relieve the pressure b r a - a y to -ear on u s y o u n g men a w i a e i n p a r t i c u l a r i n s o f a r a s I laquo d a u n i f o r r a f o r p a r t -

t i m e u s e

I a p p l i e d t o o u r s e n a t o r wo happened t o be a l o c a l a s a a n d ao

stranger to ae His reply was t o the e f f e c t t h a t the t r i p m s i a the hag I accidentally met the captain o f the Home copyroops oa the s t r e e t a day or two l a t e r l e had p r e v i o u s l y b e e n a y b r o t h e r s s c h o o l t e a c h e r a a d was

s t i l l a c l o s e neighbor o f o u r s I t o l d h i a v - e s t o r y o f ahar was l a p r o shy

g r e s s a n d he s u g g e s t e d t h a t i n s o f a r a s i g h t b e c a l l e d away w i t h o u t

much n o t i c e I g e t m y s e l f i n r e a d i n e s s he a l s o s u g g e s t e d t h a t 1 surrender sty uniform a n d any e q u i p m e n t I had f o r w h i c h he w o u l d g i v e tae a c o m p l e t e

release from the Hose G u a r d s 1 d i d this e a r n e s t l y e x p e c t i n g t h a t i n a week or so I would be on my way t o England I b o u g h t a s - a a i t r u n k and s t a r t e d - p a c k i n g i t a n d continued t o work i n t h e s h o p a s u s u a l a-- t h e

meantime

A week later our senator returned froa O t t a w a (I saw y the p a p e r s ) and I entered nia store- for tê good n e w s On a y a p p r o a c h he aade a gesture with his hand g i v i n g n o t o understand a l l m s aot well M i e n he completed the conversation h e was having w i t h someone a l o n g

p o l i t i c a l lines be turned to 1frac34 and confessed hv laquod forgotten entirely

about seeing Mr Barnes It occurred to ae t-nt I aaj be aec-icvd of

getting out of the Arsy fraud cut ly so I songht advice froa older people

It seems now that a l l our older friends were of German aeecent una their

advice was to lay low and await devejoppoundtento

During tiie reek our daxiy paper vas running an ad laquoo-h an

excursion to Detroit to see a t i g league b a l l yailaquo I quit -jy quietly

and on Saturday morning was on 1frac34 my to Detroit v ith a rcriru ticket aad

a small suitcase On ray arrivai in troi l I tore jy t e buiiii- of the

ticket and made contact with rjy old friend hero Xirppert

The day of ay a r r i v a l Julgt 2t x 1 the last Hivd capsized at

a Chicago dock drowning some 80 people srsostiv women and c ildroa who

were prepared for a Sunday School picnic (Ihe l a s t lane vns a sister ship

to the Frank h Kirby a weii-known Detroit Fiver gtoat bulllt often cntioned

in articles pertaining to the Ife oi lenry lord)

I spent the next two nights vith hero but spec -ujhc-o on the

thought of going on to Hew Orleans aa X had two friends there here

talked me Into staying in Detroit u n t i l I had jore money on raquouraquoi 1 had

$56 I wrote home for more clothes got mysc-if a rooming house and

found employment

I paid a short v i s i t to my aunt mothers aider meter Inshy

sofar as ahe did not offer ae rooa or board I yampiu another v i S i i to a

family who had lived next door to ay mother during the period I was in

Rochester 1 hardly knew these people bat they took ae l a aad I had room aad board for 5 a week Hese people were lir and ltrlaquo C arles E Dickerson and their upstairs f l a t wag at o Caster Street - I rave

tried on various occasions to locate these peopbe to thank taeu lor the home they gave se the advice offered and the aany ways tllaquoey heaped to make life more pleasant for ae i n the days 1frac34frac34 frienus were seeded At their suggestion 1 returned to Vindsor ana made my eotry into the United States legally and also joined the downtown branch of the XMCA Mr Mekerson ma a master aeohauie besides Saving lad a wonderful edushycation ien i n the coapany of Mr and Ir s Mekerson I f e l t very very i n f e r i o r

1 had arrived i a Detroit on Saturday and spent Usturday night and Sunday night with Herb l l i p p e r t On Monday X aoved to t e dickersons

On Tuesday I applied for employaent at the Cauxx oic il h u r Company After several hows of watting interviews and a physicax X vas escorted to the tool room by a messenger where they offered a V-4 a i- a- 1

questioned the foreman as to whether 1 had iiisunderstood be js reply was Ho They were offering me 29 an hour

1 told hia 1 bad just l e f t amp small town where I bao yltgt en getting 23f$ an hour and wouldnt work in Detroit for an hour Ife iaade a

notation on lay eapioynent application foro and instructed ey guide to reshyturn me to-the eeployiaent office

On returning we had to cross Cass Avenue and when X realized

-65~

I was ao longer on Cadillac property I gave the guide ay opinion of what

1 thought of the Cadillac Coapany and went on ay way

fhe next morning I started oat at seven -thirty heard t i e shops east of Woodward and soon saw a sign i n a si op window rKao-xus -anted 1 applied and was accepted at an hour 1uo shop ba^voncu tc te the Palmer lee Coapaay -and the foreman was Joe Barrett B gt- vlt=re eeeu located on East Grand Boulevard a few blocks east of -ym ird gtn the

corner of Gaaeron The long SadiatOT Company ms mmm Cameron from the Palmer Bee Coapany

I started worts at noon on Wednesday She f a l s e r Be Company had Just recently aoved into this new building and the ijdow pjaes were aot yet completely installed l a e i r business vao the iaajfaeturo sale and installation of elevator aad conveyer machinery At my entry into their shops their products were very much i n demand insofar as thslr large customers were the automobile and body builders of Detroit who at that tiae were adapting a l l types of conveyersmdashoverhead and otJierwiseraquofor moving various components as well as partly completed atassfeiiee for

automotive use

I was there about ten days when the foreman and paymaster came to me together and informed iae I would be without eamppioyaent for a few

days I was surprised and astounded at this ue-thod of proct-aur which was probably very evident by lay f a c i a l expression vbile ot ars getting the same treatment were very nonclmlast about i t This short layoff

-66-

afforded me the opportunity to go to Windsor for my suitcase and aake formal entry into the United States as vol as iuy a lev iC-v c-ois

which were badly needed However 1 three chvft- I L-ch o torfc

again After a brief conversation laquoith the foreman ve understood each

other a l i t t l e better and I had no more layoffs

After a few months of employment tiie foresaa oncopy iay saklaquol me

if I would come to his home tbat evening and help repair aa o ld car he

had and was dolling up for resale I r e l u c t a n t l y agreed Insofar as my boardingi-oise was just four Llocks from my ork and the nig t at a cold

Only the fact that others i n the shop lad agreed was xeason enougtgti to put me

behind the eight b a l l had I refused His home was my out Gfraad River and i t necessitated several transfers to get me ioce l a t e toat night by streetshy

car

Here i s what I have to say about this experience 1 wie deleshy

gated to d r i l l a hole l a the differential hoasing and tap the t-v-o for a

one~half inch pipe plug I questioned the wisdor of allowing drî1 chips

to enter the differential asso-hiy b i t later found U c reaso bull for the hole I had installed Tiie differential was badly worn 1 wno give bull-bullbull3 ample supply of ground cork which was pushed into the newoy laan factifvd hole It automatically mixed with the heavy lubricant in there au-j tno two toshy

gether i n due tine located the uost effective place where on-onirig was needed A far more quiet running rear axle was the result for uie tiae

being

- 6 7 -

An alley was next door to oar shop and next to the alley was a building which was formerly a email two-story barn This barn had been converted to a combination bake shop and stable and the upstairs housed several women who made and wrapped sandwiches At about eleven oclock the horse was hitched to a four-wheel r i g and milk pies sandwiches soup and candy were taken to the shops and sold to employees Op u n t i l that time I had always liked r a i s i n pies but when my turn came to go over and buy for the gang I changed over to coconut custard which was 15 a pie then Raisin pie was 13 for a whole pie

About this tiae ay younger brother came to the United States with the idea he wanted to be a railroad engineer He was the fortunate one of the family having graduated froa grade school After trying a year and a half at shirt cutting one year at cabinet making and one year at sheet aetalwork he had decided on railroading l e soon had a job as the fireman on a yard engine and after working seven weeks twelve hours a day at 18$ an hour he was fed up with railroading 1 soon had him under my wing and taught him in a few weeks that which had taken me years to learn Of eourse he did not i n that time develop the polish I had acquired i n ay years He nevertheless was an apt pupil and has followshyed machinist work ever since

During my employment at Balaer Bee Company I did not make the acquaintance of many of their employees who did the installation work of their equipment I did however in 1924 recognize one of them who was

seat to the Engineering Lab of the Ford Motor Company to i n s t a l l the conveyer ased by Bearhorn Independent to move r o l l s of paper froreg a freight car to the Hoe Printing Presses

In February 19l6 I l e f t the employ of the Palmer Bee Coapany Setroit after having been amy from work a few days with a cold caused by working too closely to an open door used by trucks coming and leaving I also did aot approve of heavy rough machine shop work nor 4M I lik e the idea of wearing overalls the rest copyf my l i f e as was tiie style at the Bee -Coapany Furthermore as this was ay f i r s t employaeat in Detroit I more or less took the 50b at that tiae as 1 needed one badly aad now f e l t I had established myself I had a l i t t l e money i n the bant and could really- look for a suitable Job even i f i t took several weeks

I watched the help-wanted ads for a few days A week had gone by before I decided to accept a job at 36 an hour at the -urtur Coiton Company shop at the corner of Jefferson Avenue ana Chene in Detroit fhey were makers of phanmeeutieal and special machinery They had Just started making ten special lathes for the Ford Motor Coapany for producshytion use I mm assigned to the lathe work at the machining of the gear blanks for variable feed ue

Has shop was clean The employees wore white shop aprons and each of us had individual lockers T i l l s allowed us to change clothes and then leave our work at night wearing n i f t y clothes giving the public the

impression we were white collar workers

~6y-

I began to r e a l i s e t h a t i f 1 did not have to go five sales t o

my rocreg I c o u l d s p e n d a o r e t i m e a t t h e library a n d t h e WCA so I r e n t e d

a r o o m o n t h e t h i r d floor o f a n o l d m a n s i o n o n C h a r l o t t e S t r e e t f o r $2gty a week I h a d the floor t o m y s e l f a n d i n s o f a r a s t h e p e o p l e o c c u p y i n g

t h e m a i n f l o o r r e n t e d me t h e r o o m a n d owned t h e home t h e y d i d n o t d e p e n d

o n t h e r o o m f o r t h e i r means of l i v e l i h o o d fhey d i d h a v e two r o o m e r s

o n t h e s e c o n d f l o o r whom 1 v e r y s e l d o m r a n i n t o T h i s s e t u p i n my

o p i n i o n was i d e a l a s I c o u l d l e a v e work a t 3 30 p m g o t o t h e c e n t e r

o f t h e c i t y b y streetcar wander around window s h o p p i n g o r go t o the

downtown l i b r a r y ( t h e n t h e ISain L i b r a r y ) I c o u l d h a v e a l i t t l e l u n c h

w h e r e v e r I w i s h e d and by seven o c l o c k be over at t h e downtown YMCA i n

t i m e f o r some c a l i s t h e n i c s a n d g a m e s T h e n 1 t o o k a s h o w e r a n d i t was

a brisk w a l k t o my rooa a b o u t h a l f t o three - q u a r t e r s o f a m i l e away

Some e v e n i n g s when no classes were scheduled a t t h e Y I went to a l o c a l downtown m o v i e to see films o f Francis X B u s h m a n Beverly B a y n e

C h a r l i e C h a p l i n M i l l i e R i t c h i e C l a r a K i m b a l l Y o u n g a a d s o f o r t h

A f t e r s e v e r a l weeks o f t u r n i n g gear b l a n k s I detected a p l e a s a n t p u r r i n f o r m i n g me some g a s o l i n e e n g i n e s were r u n n i n g nearby On ray l u n c h period 1 f o u n d t h e o r i g i n of t h e noise a s they were at that t i m e doing some ejcperiraquoentai work on a five or seven c y l i n d e r

radial t y p e m o t o r I was s o o n i n f o r m e d I was n o t w e l c o m e there a t t h e

e n g i n e t e s t b u i l d i n g s o I wandered t h r o u g h the o t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s t h e r e shy

after i n ray s p a r e tttae

-TO-

Internal aad exteroal grinding fascinated ae insofar as my apprent ice si ii p did aot include grinder work for the obvious reason that no parts used by then received a ground surface I am not sayirg tbat a ground surface vould not have improved their product

This wae iay f i r s t winter in Detroit and away froa anyone I knew except Berb Klippert vho had interests of his own On Sundays i t meant more library and loore shows 1 tried attending church services and lodge meetings but eaae to the conclusion that those gatherings vere just for those who were gifted vith the quality of mking friends and i n that respect I f e l t 1 raquoas lacking I speculated on the possibility that I my be harboring an i n f e r i o r i t y coi9$ampex

On A p r i l 2 Xsecta6 an ad appeared in a Detroit Sunday newspaper asking for eaperiraquoraquontal vorampere for farm tractor work at lenyy ford amp Son Inc Dearborn Burisg the following week I thought of this constantly wondering whether that really wss ay chosen field On Saturday I boarded the interurban car for Dearborn getting there about noon I had hoarded a car

marked express which oade limited stops oa the my to Ypsilanti and thereshyfore I had to walk from the- center of old Dearborn back to the shop enshytrance on klm Street I hesitated some tiae i n Dearborn about the walk hack In fact the town itself did not appeal to ae and insofar as there seenad to be ao much farmland between Detroit and Seajrhorn I f e l t I surely could not coMite daily froa Detroit to Dearborn Forthernore 1 did not r e l i s h the idea of soviisg to Dearborn and losing laquo11 contact with

-71-

the Detroit Y the library and eity l i f e

Dearborn my have had a restaurant but I didnt find i t that day I did get to the employment office which was just south of the r a i l shyroad track and at that time the Powerhouse was under construction Both of these were on the west side of Elm Street and there were at least five houses between Michigan Avenue and the tracks then

As 1 waited i a the employment office I had an idea to walk out but soon someone appeared and informed me that Mr Charles 1 Sorensen the party who did the hiring was not there I f e l t sore inclined to leave but soon Mr C J Stelth (known as Jimmy by everyone) appeared and our interview started Those who have known Jimmy Stelth know f a l l well that hiring was not one of Jteragrs attributes However my goal ifieations seemed ample but when wages were mentioned we could not agree I told bia 1 was getting 38 on hour and he commented that that was mors than he thought they would pay Just for c l a r i f i c a t i o n l e t s remember this was Saturday afternoon and I doubt whether Jimmy had ever been called upon to hire anyone before

Their location really did not cause a congestion of work applishycants so they wanted no one to slip away I realised that nine hours a day was better than eight and seeing a tractor being worked oa 1 agreed to start Tuesday morning

I s t i l l had a job but would have to check out Monday Again there was a difference of opinion insofar as Ford had made i t a policy

72-

to hire no one having a job The $5 day had been announced just two

years before f o r the Highland Park employees Ford did not want to steal

labor from other employers I argued that only he and I would know and

that I d i d n t see why I couldnt report on Tuesday l e agreed that Tuesshyday morning would be a l l right

After the early morning ride with my tool box i n tow I was assigned

a bench the third one from the foremans desk Eichard Kroll sad Jimmy

seemed to have charge but Charlie Sorensen was always around

After several short Jobs for two days 1 was taken from tbe job

I liad then aad asked to grind a one-eighth inch step into the periphery of

a hardened transmission gear They also made these reraarks Make i t

snappyj they are waiting for i t Grinding was the specialty of which my knowledge was n i l but having learnedmdashby observation only--at Col tons I did not expose my ignorance I iwsedlately made a n attempt to operate

tbe machine i chucked the gear and pushed the belt shifting ever overshy

head and manually moved the rotating work toward tbe rotating wheel laquohen the two made contact the sparks formed a solid red column down to the table I overestimated the rate of stock removal by the grinding method Having

been accustomed to one-eighth cuts on a lathe i t probably had taken me

one-half hour to get the job s e t to go

By this t i amp g Charlie Sorensen was a few feet behind me at the

foremans desk but a t that t ime I did not know Ms identity Seeing the concentration of sparks and realizing that he had never before seen anyone

-73-

attempt such rapid production he grabbed me from behind by each shoulder

and turned me around so that 1 was facing him

fie said Where the hell were yoa ever a toolmakerw

Without fear and being ignorant of any wrong doing I answered

Arthur Colton t Company I did not know Charles Sorensen at tbat time

Charles said to Kroll Is this fellow all rightn

Kroll answered Yes with a large grin on his face

fhey were in a hurry for the Job so Charlie said Ray him klf

an hour

That was my introduction to Charles Sorensen and for the next

thirty-eight years I had no reason to t e l l anyone that Charlie Saeemeti

didnt treat ae properly regardless of the opinions of others toward hia

yene were making fixtures at that tiae suitable In wearing quality

for the manufacture of the first f i f t y farm tractors Our building was

of brick and had a line abaft running east and west The power was supshy

plied by a stew tractor in the shed outside of the shop with tbe belting

coming through a hole in the wall

The present Twin Lakes were then much larger and the Wagner

Brickyards were still operating nearby The lakes were slowly being fi l l e d

up with the foundry sand but later the sandhills just west of Oampkwood and

south of Beech were moved in to hasten the f i l l i n g up of the lake Pish

poles were always ready at the Foundry door and carp were usually ready to

bite

-k-

1 retseaber seoe of the Machine Shop employees who worktd near ae during that suner of 19l6 Smm sraquoy have started enaloyoent later

than I however they were Jake tonkin a one-armed isan Jerry Soiwersi Frank McCoraieki Steve Zaboj afenry Wiedutteaj Id ffracei Paul MuGenig Pete McGregorj Mr Bricker Pete farkevitss later changed to Iorl)j and of course lay Bahlimgerj l i c k Krollj aad Jlraquo Smith

Insofar as Inglaad and Oensstay were at war ve were asking a serious effort to get the Fordson tractors in the field ia quantities and while special stachinery was cosing in for production use we were also making fifty tractors as heat we could on various kinds of iracrhnes Of

course later on these fifty tractors could not he identified or recognised

as such 1 aaa not sure whether any of these first f ifty were eold but i f

not they were used on the Peri Farms at Bearbom

the first tractors had the worm on top of mm wheel bat this was soon changed insofar as when the rear wheels became stuck ur issraovable

the worn drive would just run around the wora wheel turning t e tractor

bottom side up It was not unusual to see tractors of this asodel having the front end i n the air until the clutch pedal was depressed and them the front wheels would again hit the ground

At one tlrae we were experimenting with a mercury swl-ch mounted

on the side of the tractor and at an angle The purpose was t at when the tractor would heave up In front the tube holding the jtercury vould be

placed in a horizontal position allowing the mercury to flow to the rear

-T5-

of the tube thereby making contact which in turn would short the current

to the spark plugs This idea seemed feasible but not practicable and i

later on i t was found necessary to make the tractors with the worm below

the worm wheel This design was better anyhow as worm and worm bearings

were immersed i n rear axle o i l

When the production of tractors was well under way and Great

Britain was having some trouble feeding i t s population i t was decided to

make the fordson Tractors in Ingland to help i n farming and i n the working

of the s o i l to feed the Bri t i s h people Quite a few of the supervisory

staff (with the know-how) were sent to England with blueprints ao get proshy

duction started however the group soon returned and every effort was put

forth to produce tractors here at Dearborn faster

Ae always space was at a premium and mezzanines were hastily

built wherever the ceilings seemed high enough to accommodate thea The

Powerhouse at the railroad (having some vacant floor space) was hastily

converted Into a dining room and the Japanese cook from the Ford residence

Fair Lane was given additional duties here at the Tractor plant Ve

were doing considerable overtime work and a handy place to get hot meals

was appreciated

One other fellow whose name should have been included i n the

l i s t mentioned on the previous page was B i l l Squires I do not know

whether he was i n the original group that went to England for the purshy

pose of starting tractor production but he has been back and forth ever

-76-

since waking Bis hme over there The group that lad Bade the trip to

England had found that steel and labor at that time vers impossible to get and for that reason it was decided to return to dearborn make the

tractors here and ship thes to England

Sometime around 13Q the first Fordsom tractor sold was

located and for obvious reasons again became ford property lowever in

returning this tractor to Dearborn someone neglected to drain the water

from the cooling system sod while In transit the water frose causing a

crack to appear on the cylinder water Jacket which required repairs The repair was accomplished by soldering a copper patch over tha leak and

no doubt if the tractor is s t i l l around that patch and a notation to

that effect are part of the tractor

labout kdO feet south of the railway pound1raquo Street made a turn to the right aad then became an east and west street lining up with the

present Beech Street Just south of Sla Street after it had made its

turn there stood a drilling rig very substantially built of oak Of

course almost everyone in Dearborn was curious to know what Ford had in

aind Some of us were eager to know what formations were below us Aa

with most drill crews the information given to the public was vague aad

misleading Sowever 1 kept on asking them Questions but never found out

what wae below us until years later Finally 1 me able to procure a log

or chart of findings which disclosed formations similar to other wells in the state However the thickness of the salt area was enormous starting

77-

I

at 985 feet down

Dearborn at tbat time bad no other industry of note and Elm

Street was about the eastern boundary with Howlin on the west and the

Bouge River to the north Most of the homes were clustered at Mason

south of the railroad The d r i l l e r s worked two shifts and made good proshy

gress as they started i n June 1915 aad by October were down 035 feet

Some Dearborn people protested about tiie noise aade at night so orders

were given to be more quiet Over the week ends the crew used to mount

a stuffed pair of overalls on top of the r i g which gave the impression

that there was always someone there

Mr Ford also was there a lot as he then lived at Fair lane

The objective of the depth was 5000 feet then unheard of in Michigan

but at 035 feet the d r i l l hit a cavity and became wedged and the cable

snapped1 I s Mr Ford wae quite insistent that nothing was Impossible

he urged thea to continue Although at this time they were 350 feet

deeper than the deepest Michigan well at Mfe Pleasant the crew used a l l

the tricks of the trade trying to f i s h for the d r i l l They became very

discouraged at their failure and finally i n June 1916 the well was

abandoned and the r i g dismantled The Wagner Brickyard continued to

operate insofar as good brick-Making clay extended downward almost withshy

out gravel for 100 feet

After a week or two 1 inserted an ad in the Dearborn paper for

a rocsa but had no reply I continued to commute to Detroit daily

-78-

Oa May 82 l$l6t I beams twenty-two years old and very raquoraquock i n love wits the variety of work 1 was doing The shops were being exshytended to the south and every day brought i s new faces past experiences with steam engines- as well ae gaa engines plus sacMae shop work put me i a a position whereby 1 never teen what was next aad was audi l a de-aaad 1 soon found myself working at the Powerhouse quite a bit

1 told ay hoes that insofar as I was single l i v i n g alone and wil l i n g to work that working overtiae and Sundays were to my l i k i n g Thereafter I had no scheduled quitting time Before the year w s up ay wages vere up to 6-$ an hour plus overtime at the regular rate

I was occasionally sent over to the residence Powerhouse for odd jobs and spent five weeks at the Dairy fans at the northeast corner of Ford load and Southf ield installing a s i l k i n g system In their cattle bora The piping used for stanchions also had valves attached whereby the vacutsa needed for the operation of the milking aachlaes was furnished tlirough the same pipe The method of mounting the stanchions n the vacuum line did not fare too well as the cows insisted on roug- treatshyment of the stanchions Tills caused leaks and failore of the -acuuia

Velding was not in general use at that time hut lsad it been toe in s t a l l a shytion would have been a success

bullbulloung this five weeks I discovered that real butter ii Ik was very good to drink and that 1utter one-eighth inch thick on I ead was also very good to eat and that Mr ford preferred his butter made without

7 9 -

salt or coloring

A Company ear would usually take ae to tie Dairy farm but Rich Kroll was my boss and he would call for me at quitting- time Several times owing to other business or forgetfulneas I was left stranded there and ms obliged to walk to Michigan Avenue for transportation to

Detroit

I saw very very little of the people from whom I rented my

room and always paid ay room rent by leaving the $250 on my dresser ia

plain view Gas evening on returning to ay rooa 1 heard the sound of

footsteps coming up to the second floor and then to the third floor I was aghast as I had never before had a visitor Considering no one shared

the third floor with ae I walked toward the stairway and there met a

lovely brunette dressed in pink She ms carrying a tray to m with a

slice of cake on It covered with ice cream She ms not long ia telling

me that she was the daughter of ay landlady She also told ae that during the day the Ford Investigators had been there to double check as to ay

mode of living and habits She remarked that they (ay landladys family were very glad to know I worked at Fords

Having a rooming house so close to downtown Detroit ao doubt

had attraction for may undesirables No doubt these people aot knowing

me very wellfelt more at ease with the knowledge that X worked at Fords

and had a steady Job

Shortly after I was hired at Ford Motor Company they decided to

-So-

pat oa a second shift and requested that two employees start work at

630 am this meant 1 had to arise at klaquo3o am get dressed have

breakfast and get down to Michigan Avenue in time to catch the inter-

urban car leaving Jefferson aad Bates at 530 am It also meant I had

to retire early Considering these factors plus the fact that the arshy

rangement of the house was such that on entering the front door one imshy

mediately started up the stairway accountcopy for the fact that the landshy

lady aad roomer had very few contacts unless they were planned or happened

by chance

In lyl6 Mr and Mrs Ford had already aoved to Fair L ne but

many of the workmen were s t i l l around Mr and Mrs Ford were oth giving

ordersmdashmany tines conflicting with one anothermdashbut not la esc others

presence Many a workman was placed in an embarrassing positica trying

to decide which one to obey I cannot recall anyone having been removed

from the payroll for disobeying either party bat the concensus of opinion

seemed to be to favor Mrs Fords orders and rely on arbitration with

Henry i f a crisis developed

On one occasion 1 overheard of Mrs Fori reprimanding a carpenter

for sawing a piece off a long board to get a short one There may have

been short onecopy lying around on the ground lie needed a short board and

used the quickest my of getting i t

West of Fair Lane there was a boatnouse which was built into the

side of the M i l and was concealed from view except from the river This

-81-

hoathouse me used to bouse am electric launch which mi propelled by batteries It was considered Quite foolproof and easy to operate The boathouse was equipped with charging efttipwent so the batteries could be kept f u l l y charged reghe boethouse was large enough so that occasionally analler boats weald be put alongside Oa- one occasion 1 me called over there to Start a boat engine

A small inboard had teen tied to a stake on the shore and during the night the water level had dropped sufficiently to cause the stern to submerge and flood t i e boat and the engine This allowed the water to get into the cronkcaee and mix with the oil I clean J out the mixture of o i l and water aa well as the water i n the hull and eventually got the engine started but the explosions which occurred were aot natural or uniform After soae more work an attenpt was made to try it out on the riverWith ay superior at the stern aad I i n tbe bow the -engine had the flywheel forward and as we were going at quite a speed (considering the functioning of the motor) the f i r i n g was not yet -uniform 1 was on the floor i a the snail space forward when my superior tried opening and closing the throttle Quickly hoping for something to fix i t s e l f and trying to get a steady parr Ala at once the flywheel broke off bringing with it about one inch of crankshaft This flywheel and I played iodgeum for a time as i t spun around in this confined area At last with its nroaenttai spent i t laid at rest Exposure of the ragged end of the crankshaft imshypressed upon uc how close I had been to physical injury

-82-

fWLraquo crankshaft which was seemingly solid had internal faults which coold have been detected i f aa X-ray of the steel had been possible thea In those days the shaft was nade of east steel and only about half the area at the break wae solid

On another oeoaslon I me taken over to the copyretard pounduat north of lair lane to a steam tractor which bad burned oat a mm bearing Aa

older ma named Paul liussaig derma bora was with me Ultk his help to ae or mine to- hia we relined the worn out bearing with babbitt using a chaiafall attached to an apple tree to l i f t the crankshaft i n and out as necessary

Shortly after that 1 wan called upon to help find a squeak on a iiirmcsBi car Mr Fords chauffeur drove me down to Michigan Avenue where the interurban tracks followed beside the road We drove back and forth with either the l e f t or the right side wheels on the railroad ties giving the car plenty of ups and downs I myself ma oa the running board hoping to locate the origin of the squeak At tiroes our upeed was

f i f t y - f i v e Mies an Pour Little did I realize ay danger at thit time

although1the running board and fender were ample i a width on thsse older models

The next job was to clean the carbon and grind the vrAves on

a Mercer car It waa a four-cylinder model with the cylinder block in units of two Again I resorted to hanging chainfalle on the lash of a

tree with the ear just west of the main door of the residence garage

83-

f i l l s 40ft tested ay patience ao the rope seemed to slip o f f the block ao

easily as the block ms being raised off the pistons This ear had no detachable eyliaier head and as no help ms furnished m I labored along alone Toward night 1 bad to cover the front of the laquo with a tarpaulin aad take a l l the loose pieces Inside the building I laquo s allotted an unshyused comer for ay workshop

I t was- here that Sr Ford found ae working one morning I was working on-the Mercer cylinder block while s i t t i n g on threg floor i n tbe corner Se sat down beside ae and started asking ae fixations bull i e seem

ingly had no place to go aad was not In a harry I believe before traquo l e f t he had ay whole l i f e story Saving never worked on a liaraon or Mercer before 1 f e l t elated and happy to get this experience

After completing this Job 1 was next assigned to do saae- repair work oa the Rolls Royee rear axle After disassembling i t the trouble was located and i t necessitated replsceaent of amp aisor part A telegras was sent to SnglawS far the purchase of the part and the authorities soon had a reply requesting the rear axle be sent to England for rep-air They felt a more perfect job could be done by their mechanics as t-e replaceshyment part required f i t t i n g because the parts were mot interchangeable I t ms not considered advisable to ship the -axle unit to tnglasd and i n due tiael the defective part was replaced i n our shops at Bearbom and also installed by ine

It- ms then I pulled a boner Ifettumlly when repairs were

-81-

completed one wants to t r y i t out so I took the B o l l s loyee east on the

pr ivate road f o r a tes t run A l l seemed t o funct ion properly aad I had

no t rouble finding out what each l e v e r gadget and knob were for Before

I got the car back into the garage there appeared on the scene someone I

wasnt very anxious to sseet just then Af ter considerable verbal accusashy

tions and exchange I was deprived of further road tests on the Roils

Royce and was behind the eight ba l l f o r sosetias t o cone

The Ford garage a t that t i a e housed a Mercer Harmon S o i l s

Royce D e t r o i t E l e c t r i c a s i x - c y l i n d e r s p e c i a l ford painted a oaoary

yel low and an assortment of Model Ts

In August 1916 a married cousin o f mine bought a Ford Touring

c a r 1 was eager to be a Ford owner also During the winter 1 placed

my orderbut d e l i v e r y raquo s aot prompt and i n April 191T war was declared

The previous Christmas I asked my mother to cone and aeep house

fo r me which she d i d we were established in a small rented house near

Michigan Avenue i a D e t r o i t but not i n a neighborhood to our l i k i n g On

April 1 we moved to a new house a few blocks from lamprren and Ilvernois

where they tested the L i b e r t y rotors outdoors at n ight but we d i d n t

know that when we rented I t

brother who was three years younger bad a l s o earns t o l i v e

with us Ia A p r l i shortly a f t e r war vas declared he enlisteo with the

United States Engineers Corps which left the f u l l support of y mother

and household to myself

-85-

I n due tiae ray ear was delivered to a e for 360bull file agency from whichay ear me delivered was on Grand liver Avenue near Cass High School flie date of delivery was ahout July 1 191T The reason I was able to g e t delivery ms because of a few rainy days which prevented deshylivery to someone outside of the city I had been making periodic trips t o t h e dealer asking for delivery and this Saturday noon ay wishes were granted I had nade arrangements that o n delivery I could swap the standard ford wheels and tires to the General Tire Company on the corner of Hancock and Woodward and in exchange get demountable rims and 3sect inch tires for a l l four wheels The Ford care at that time mm equipped with 30 inch by 3 inch tires on tbe front wheels aad 30 inch by || inca tires oa the rear wheels Incase a puncture or blowout required repairing on the roadside it was no joke with the clincher rims and hand pumping

However when I arrived a t the General Tire store I was i n f o r m e d

t h a t t h e i r crew did not work Saturday a f t e r n o o n s s o I v o l u n t e e r e d to do

the l a b o r and ay o f f e r m s a c c e p t e d I parked t h e c a r o n Hancock w i t h i n

sixty f e e t o f Woodward and jacked up one vhee after another a-d made the

change I n a fev hours I had t h e job completed I b e l i e v e I lad t o r e shy

move a l l spokee from h u b s and bolt new wheels t o the o l d hubs On comshy

pletion I was s mess s o I r e a c h e d i n t o a p a c k i n g box at t h e curb to w i p e

ay hands on old papers in the box In so doing I seemed to sense that the inside of the box was not as deep as the outside of the box eeasfed to fee I pushed some papers aside and found a f u l l layer of ianertubes in cartons

- 8 6 -

at tbe tottee of tbe bos which had been forgotten by an ewpioyee emptying

the box $hi box had been oat on the street for several hours awaiting the jalaquokraquoiraquotttt to pick i t up 1 advised the store clerk of ay fine but reshy

ceived no- thanks for my discovery

I drove over to SQT aunt near the Michigan Central Bepot where

ay mother had been waiting for a e On a r r i v a l the water i n the radiator

was boiling and the hood ma already covered with rusty water spots I

l i f t e d the hood aad discovered that no gasket had been inserted between

the cylinder head and the water outlet elbow and the water was almost

gone froa the radiator A repair job was necessary The only sjaterial

1 could find st ay aunts house suitable to me as a gasket me as old

window shade I cut several of these and inserted thea and wea ready to

go for a t h r i l l i n g ride I had already found the auto license office

closed but decided to drive anyhow I got dawn to Jefferson e id Bates

and had a f l a t t i r e there I had pinched the innertube while Mounting

the t i r e s a few hours before so I had to patch the t i r e there ead then

as I had no spare as yet

The rainy weather had not helped the paint to dry ant my bands

kept getting black but now I had wiping rags along for t h i s p xpose At

Woodward and Jefferson I vas stopped for driving without a lie-use plate

but was excused by the cop upon showing hia a delivery receipt dated the

mm day

FTOK my aunts house I telephoned her daughter and ve made

arrraquoaglaquolaquottts for a picnic at Belle i s l e for the next day She also had a

new Fori delivered to thea about eight months before mine

We l i v e d near Livernois and Warren then and getting the car to

our own yard ms out of the question owing to the condition of roads on

account of recent rains Qer car ms parked on Mversois overnight our

only lock being the renewal of the switch key from the c o i l box However

we found the car okay the next morning and started f o r downtown Detroit

The paint was s t i l l not dry As gasoline ms available by opening a small

valve under the carburetor t h i s helped reaove paint from haa-ae I dried

my hands an the cloth and threw the cloth on the f l o o r behind the driver

1frac34 were driving on barren Avenue between Junction and Orand

River when ay mother riding beside me discovered a f i r e behind us I

stopped and found a cigarette butt had been tossed onto the gasoline soaked

rag probably free the streetcar we bad Just passed Of course 1 had a

burning rag to remove froreg the car

We arrived at Belle I s l e and spent a nice day together with a l l

of our Detroit relatives I had parked my ear and my cousin had parked

her8 close behind i t to conceal the lack of a license plate However

an alert b i c y c l e policeman spotted ay car and came over with notebook i n

hand I admitted ownership and tried to explain that delivery was made

too late Saturday for ae to get a license hut this tiae i t didnt work

As he wrote down hi ad Ford Touring Owner i n h i s l i t t l e hook we heard

some y e l l i n g nearby and sau a pony cart being pulled by two l i t t l e ponies

-88-

heading briskly toward one of the canals One of the g i r l s ûaped or

f e l l and the rear wheel bounced over her forreg the polieeaan left us t o

go to the rescue We aid not w i t to see the result instead we boarded

our ear and l e f t quietly without saying goodlaquoby t o our policeman f r i e n d

Pe l e f t the i s l a n d and arrived how without further events but

again had to leave the eax on the street a f u l l block away froc home overshy

night On Wednesday I aade an attempt to get the car to the ho tse arid

succeeded only a f ter having the e n t i r e neighborhood help me through the

c l a y gumbo The car regained at home u n t i l the next Sunday when the roads

were more able to accommodate auto t r a f f i c

1 ran this ear 46000 a l l e s and i n Soveaber 1321 traded i t i n

a t layne Michigan f o r a current model Soae years l a t e r (ay f i r s t ear)

a 191 Touring aodel was brought to Bearbom on a drive-away truck to

gether wi th a n o ld copyteareg t r a c t i o n engine Mr ford had purchased the

engine froa a faraer near A d r i a n 1 recogniaed the car which I had preshy

v i o u s l y owned by certain saall iaproweaents 1 bad i n s t a l l e d on i t 1

questioned employees as to the reason for ay o ld car coming back and

found out that Mr Ford had personally purchased the steaa tractor and

during the conversation the farster had aenttoaed be a l s o had a Ford car

which d i d not funct ion properly Mr Ford told h i a to send i t along when

they called for the engine which he did I again saw this cat just prior

to itcopy return to the faraer after i t had been thoroughly overhauled re-

upholetered a new top installed body repainted and so f o r t h A very nice

-89-

present from l e n r y Ford t o the farmer During the years f o l l o w i n g I had a c t u a l l y seen m a y similar

i

a c t s by I r Ford o f this nature

1916 to 19^

These were the years o f a l l around i n t e r e s t aai d i v e r s i f i e d endeavors The T r a c t o r d i v i s i o n was developing i n t o amp p r o d u c t i o n u n i t

and those f i t t e d f o r the rigors o f mass production soon became straw bosses

aad some l a t e r oa as superintendents 1 was s t i l l being sent f r o a Job t o

job and soon became less t i e d i n with the Tractor d i v i s i o n Vhen the

spring flood waters receded Mr Ford discovered a three-cyiind^r motor-boat which tad been submerged a t the newly acquired s i t e mdash n o w known as the

Rouge plant I was sent down with a helper to get this engine and reshyturn it to Dearborn The boat had been removed from the water end was resting on b l o c k s as dry land A f t e r Mr Ford looked the engine over carefully he ordered it put i n t o good running c o n d i t i o n and I m laquo deleshygated to do i t Then after the engine had been thoroughly overhauled i t waa stored i n a nearby barn When t h i s barn vas t e r n down the engine

was moved t o another barn and on and oa i t went 1 dont think the engine

was ever put t o use again At about t h i s time a f r i e n d o f mine sent me an Oddfellow p i n 1

had been admitted to the Oddfellows A s s o c i a t i o n w h i l e i n Canada 1 wore

t h i s pin on the l a p e l o f my coat and soon a fellow s a i d t o me Oh so

you a l s o j o i n e d the Oddfellows because M r William f o r i did

J f r William ford aad Mr Wolfe were then in charge of the

farming of Ford landsmdasha position later held by Me Dahlinger 1 resented

having been accused of Joining this fine organisation on these grounds

nevertheless I removed the pin and never again displayed any symbol of fraternalbullaffiliations This however wis to my disadvantage later

insofar as many times I have seen favoritism shown to and by those affilishy

ated with the various cliques or organizations

I traveled back and forth from Detroit to Dearborn by Interurban

streetcar Oh two occasions I was obliged to commute part way by a horse-

drawn hay rack insofar as the spring floods of the Rouge River here in

west Dearborn made it impossible for streetcars to pass through This

low spot was Just west of the River Rouge bridge at Michigan Avenue The

present road is somewhat higher than the old road and car tracks which

at that time followed the river more elosely

At this tiae Iff Ford added a very capable engineer and designer

to his engineering staff Allan Barton He had previously been with the

Burroughs Adding Machine Company A mechanic named Milton Smith also

from Burroughs came with him Milton Smith was allotted a small room

about 12 by 16 feet into which he placed a lathe mill drill press and

several benches and vises This department then became my headquarters

aad for a time I had no miscellaneous outside work to do Mr Ernest ffenzler then came into the Company and spent his

working hours out in the shops and in the Tractor Production Department

-91-

However insofar as our small room seemed more appropriate to Ma he chose to hang hia coat on our ball tree and also used our room as headquarters He carried his lunch in a standard lunch box as we did However at lunch time he occasionally would aay Well lets see what the Jap butler has for ay lunch today We enjoyed his coapany and discussed the topics of the day together whenever he wasnt asking our opinions of problems he had in the fabricating of metalsmdasha topic a little more familiar to us than to him We soon sensed that a l l was not well and regretted his leaving as he was very energetic capable and well liked

Allan Horton soon started bringing us workmdashsome connected with tractor improvements--but mostly to develop ideas which Mr Ford and he had discussed We soon outgrew our little room and were allotted a space about fourteen by forty feet at the end of tbe new Tractor Department tool room Our department was enclosed with wire fencing and had wooden floorshying and was on the sasse level with the drafting room next to UFraquo in which Mr farkas had his blackboards and drawing boards

Mr hortons drawings were unlike others then in use We soon saw the logic of this different method which later on was more or less adapted by the Ford Motor Company His drawings had an established vertishycal base line near the left-hand side of the drawing as well as horizontal near the bottom of the drawing and all possible dimensions bad their starting point from these lines This method eliminated to a great extent the cumulative errorcopy which were possible by using the method then in use

-92-

with dimensions from hole to hole or face to face The dimensions oa his prints also i e r e in tenths and hundreds instead o f in fractlt sits of an inch For exaaple seven-sixteenth inch decimal of which i s IjJi would read kH on Beatons prints

fhe Tractor tool room was south of our department tin floor being concrete and about a foot lover than ours fce were not aoier the jurisdiction o f tie Iraetor lH-artient n e v e r t h e l e s s we -arkeu bull a verj c i o s e r-arsuouy oth tte- Insofar a s o n rainy o c c a s i o n s cert-ait yamplt ts o n

which ve were eacperiaenting could be partly machined by faster production methods and then taken to our department wnere finaj r-c ining on tool room machines was done

Vbiie wc ere a l this location a hr Perry of the Fis 4 Perry Coapany Ciicago wae introdace-j to us and vt- were asked t o inslaquoui some of the special manifolds he had -patented and was manufacturing in Chicago His manifold wag amp casting having the intake and exhaust integral and incorporating a sliding s l e e v e Bade of aXminum which he calieo a venturi This sleeve when the engine a s dead or idling regained at the bottom of the intake casting at the carburetor flange and the combustible mixshyture passed through tiie venturi into the combustion chapter en the engine speed vaa increased a higtier vacuum vas created toerei j if ting this venturi there y opening fore sod aft intake passages and iLlo-lag the uixtore to enter the combustion chanter without passing tltrough the venturi Mr Plaquorry suppxied -aen of us Model T owners vith these oanifolds

-93-

and the F o r i Motor Company became very mam i n t e r e s t e d i n t h i s patented

product o f P e r r y s M r f e r r y eoauutei t o Chicago week ends by Michigan

C e n t r a l t r a i n and made h i s headquarters i a our department and o f course

took us i n t o h i s confidence we rade Venturis of various size openings

and r a d i i and wai ted for informtion r ega rd ing r e s u l t s o f t r i a l s

C h a r l e s Sorensen was a t that t i a e i n and our continually and

s e v e r a l tijaes M r P e r r y and he were i n conference i n our department M r

P e r r y and Jiru Graith together inforacd us t ha t the Ford Motor Coa-fluy was

i n t e r e s t e d i n u s ing this manifold However i n s o f a r as iar F i s h was a

Jhw they wanted no dealings witi h i s S h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r we were i n -

forxaed tha t Mr Pe r ry had arranged t o bay 1 frac34 - Jsh out of the p i c t u r e

A f t e r t h i s vas done lir P e r r y and the Ford Motor Cowpan were road t o

t a l k prices

At f i r s t P e r r y was asked a t w h i c h p r i c e he eould f u r n i s h 50G a

day He casae to our department to do his t h i n k i n g and f i g u r i n g and soon

a r r i v e d a t a f i g u r e ah i ea seened r i d i c u l o u s l y low t o u s After a few days

he vras asked the p r i c e o f 1da a day then 2 a hi and then j a - a he vas

eventually a sked If e equip a l l o f our ne c a r s with your mat lt folds

what p r i c e wii i you quote on hijCr) t o jltrX a day He $ave t h e a a p r i c e

a g a i n and casae t o our departiuent again w i t h sweat on h i s brov ind was

naturali worked up about his promise ana thought o f p r o d u c t i o n problems

He continued t o do resea rch on jmnlfoids and soon i t was d i scove red t irnt

d u s t e t c coming through the ca rbu re to r was adher ing to the i a a e r w a l l

bdquo9

of the manifold thereby preventing proper e l i d i n g action of tho venturi

which impaired the performance for which i t was intended Tiie entire idea

of adapting t h i s t a n i f o i d was dropped and Mr Perry returned to Chicago

very much downhearted

The Highland Bark p l a a t was doing experimental work OH a small

tank with a Model T motor as t h e power unit We also were working along

the same l i n e s using a tractor i s o t o r l a t e r on when the Armistice was

s igned we had progressed t o a point where we were I n s t a l l i n g tlaquoo tractor

engines side by side f o r a larger tank

ife a l s o made a two-cylinder engine--air c o o l e d o p p o s e d t y p e -

to be used f o r a d r i v e r l e s s p lane which was supposed to f l y i n the deshy

sired d i r e c t i o n and then eventually explode t o the disadvantage of the

enemy This engine had no bolts whatever and was designed to have a

very short l i f e a n d was unable to be repaired i f captured Mr Borton

was fathering t h i s project and followed i t through to completion even

helping u s with the dyneaoaeter t e s t

Regardless o f how busy we were M r Ford always wanted something

done Ife seemed to be t r y i n g to hold up anything pertaining to war work

One time he brought i n a assai l pearl handled jackknife and asked M r K i l t

Smith to sake up one similar but h a l f the eize of the one furnished Mr

Smith was our foreman and adviser and had pxenty of rush jobs s-arted

but s t a r t e d on the k n i f e A s the p i eces were t a k i n g shape he paced

thorn on top of his t o o l b o x where M r Ford could sev h-mo every t i a e he

-95-

passed by In making aodels half-size you cannot always cut a l l dimenshysions in h a l f Therefore Mr Saitn used h i s own Judgment isodflying the

h a l f f i g u r e occasionally in ordlt--r to have ample strength where aeeded and a t the same tiae maintain suitable proportions Mr Ford found

f a u l t with this k n i f e time and again and Mr Smith had t o replaee several

parts and a t the same time keep the department functioning as i t should

As parts were replaced they in t u r n were placed oa the t o o l box f o r Mr

Fords approval Occasionally Mr Ford would ignore the parts e n t i r e l y

To c a l l h i s a t t e n t i o n to anything at the wrong t i a e a l s o had

i t s repercussions as thea yoa had the so-called silent treatment adminisshytered to you at which time you were entirely ignored by Mr Ford Eventushy

a l l y parts were approved and the k n i f e was assembled The pearl and steel were pollened and the finished knife was placed for Mr Ford to pick up

at the tiae Mr Ford picked up the knife I was busy assembling a new carburetor oa a t r a c t o r xrgt the rooa next to the fiachine Liop and was behind a vertical blackboard and not seen by Mr Ford He entered the room with the knife s t i l l i n his hand and a very beautiful l i t t l e piece of work i t was Jim Smith was nearby and Mr Ford saw Jlaay so he said to J i s Smith hook here Jim i t took one month to make me a knife Look at i t i look at i t mdash o n e month Jim knew Mr Ford quite well and realized- that t h i s was no time to disagree with him and therefore a l shylowed MrFordbullbull8 opinion of Mr Milt Smith to sink deeper into Mr fords

mind Mr M i l t Smith ms a very capable and precise mechanic and took

great pride in quality workmanship He had taken great pains to give

Mr Pord a beautiful piece of craftsmanship Insofar as he vas nev at

Fords maybe his open efforts and his desire to please Mr Ford backshy

fired on him

Mr Ford was a good ice skater and for years we were i n the

business of keeping bis (and other peoples) skates sharp I do not rememshy

ber when he skated last but know he was s t i l l skating after I thought i t

best I not continue

Shortly after his moving to Fair Lane (I mean a few years after)

he decided he wanted to have a toboggan slide built near his home Of

course we as always got into the picture some way or other and some of

our men were called upon to help Mr ford and Mr Roy Bryant did not

openly display much brotherly love During the construction of this

slide Mr Ford suggested to an employee that he accideutly s l i p and in

so doing knock the feet out from under Mr Bryant i n such a way that Mr

Bryant would slide down the slide without a toboggan We heard that the

fellow was reluctant to do this and eventually had the excuse he couldnt

get Mr Bryant i n a position whereby i t would look like an accident so

Mr Bryant was deprived of an unusual experience

After the powerhouse at Fair bane was completed i t was learned

that Thomas Edison was to pay Mr Ford a v i s i t In the powerhouse between

the two water-driven generators there stood an Armington amp Sims engine

directly connected to the generator This electric power generating unit

-9J-

wag formerly used by Mr hdlson i n tbe Pearl Street Station i a lev York City to generate e l e c t r i c i t y for tbe f i r s t street lighting city i n the world

It was Mr Fords wish that this engine he operating While Mr Edison was i n town Several days before Mr Edisons v i s i t i t as decided to give the engine a tryout--sojaethittg quite proper insofar as they wished to be sure- a l l wae well fhe steaa valve (admitting the steam into the pipe leading to the throttle valve at the engine was opened) and shortly-after the throttle valve at the engine was opened admitting the steaa into the cylinder through condensation or otherwise water bad accumulated in the pipe and entered the engine cylinder with the steam Insofar as the engine was in motion the water could not get through the steaa passshyages quickly enough and engine rotation was stopped abruptly

Rich ICroii picked ae up in a hurry and we went over to look at the damage done The cylinder head ms broken the valve operating ana and casting were broken and the crankshaft was bent l i r Edison ms due in a few days

fhe broken casting wae Joined together at the- break for use as a pattern and a new casting was on i t s way in a hurry fhe valve mechanism was repaired and straightened and a new casting machined to replace the broken one fua crankshaft was bent causing the flyheel to bullotbae conshysiderably The crankshaft was straightened by placing several small Jacks between the engine base and the flywheel and forcing the crankshaft upward

98-

against thebearing cap ana outward away froa the engine base casting This method of straightening was contrary to ay good Judgment and would not have been attempted by me on ay own decisio n but insofar as I was

told to do so I followed orders aad after several t r i a l s mdash e a c h one imshyproving the runout a l i t t l e mdash t h e flywheel soon was running w i t h i n a few

thousandths of true The damaged spots were touched up with paint and I was s t i l l there when Mr Ford brought Mr ldilaquoon into the rolaquos to see the engine i n operation

Those of us present vho knew how badly the engine had been damaged and knew how we a l l pitched i n to get the engine repaired i n so short a time were weH pleased with the results but would haw liked to have had time t o adjust connecting rod bearings so as to remove the knock

or thump at every revolution Ve had to look the other way when Eenry Ford t o l d Mr Edison how quietly i t was operating Mr Ford f u l l y realised -Mr Edison could not hear the thump and as far as I know didnt l e t on to Edison that anything had gone wrong A f t e r Mr t d i s o n

had returned home we again dismantled the engine and put i t into s t i l l better condition but i t was used only on very special occasions

However the two water-driven generators had been operating a l shymost constantly and the contact of the brushes on the casawtator had shown evidence of much use so i t was decided that these commutators should be resurfaced without dismantling I was told to have a bracket made and do the job Insofar as I had been on ay own most o f ay younger years and had

~))-

grown t o depend e n t i r e t y upon my own judgment f o r guidance I proceeded

t o aake ay p l a n e A f t e r several attempts a t having a 58 i n c h hy k inch

by 2k i n c h bull s t e e l bar hent t o conform with trio r a d i u s and angle o f the

generator top h e l l housing 1 as ready t o go t o work

Hr Ford tod an i r o n planer i n h i s private lab a t the F a i r Xane

garage whicn f o r soae reason wraquois kept there f o r i t s sentiueata_ v a l u e I

d i d not ask anyones p e r m i s s i o n t o use the c r o s s - r a i l of this p laner f o r

uy job but when the t i n e came t o do the job of turning ths coua-tator 1

ashed the vate ivaar t o - e t 3 S i n t o Hr IJris p r i v a t e L a b he bull hinking

1 had Biade a i l arrangtiaents for the l o a n allowed iae t o enter ad remove

the cross-rail aril soon I was removing copper and tiica from t l raquo coflERittator

toe generator rpr being c o n t r o l l e d by the adjustment o f rates

Te o p e r a t i o n vixs x success aad only a f t e r the job wc J completed

o l d I -ear f r o a other ani I royseif r e a l i z e d tba-c 1 3-ou^d i i t have

used a p o r t i o n o f toat y i a n e r f o r t i i job without perr-lsaionv aswever 1

am sure nad I asked permission It would he been refund

About a year l a t e r t t j tlirust b e a r i n g at the upper cent1 o f the

Generator U1L broke rolxer iud again I was delegated to aue the r e shy

p a i r s I aadc a new set of rol l e r s and thrust plates o f a d e s i g n similar

t o the one furnished by the eoiLyampny f u r n i s h i n g the entire Installation but

xt a l s o f a i l e d then gave come thought as to why a stsndar r a d i a l

thrust b a i l h e a r i n g could aot -e used and i f that f a i l e d the bull earlttgs

(being standard stock) could be replaced readily I -ifcde sketches o f the

- 1 0 0 -

adapter needed ordered st e e l for saae and Installed them on both generashy

t o r s

1 t i g h t state here tbat these bearings have proven very s a t i s shy

factory and although t l c s e generators are used very l i t t l e ( i i at a i l )

the fact retains that a hen i n use the entire weight of the a r m bull ure shaft

flywheel and turbine is carried by t h i s bearing aa though beica the generashy

t o r two r a d i a l hearings help to hold i t perpendicuiar

In the o r i g i n a l i n s t a i x a t i o n of l i g h t and power at fb^r lane

provision had bean made for a supplementary source of e l e c t r i c a l supply

and at that time aa entire room under the north end of the green house

was f i l l e d with storage batteries This was known to a l l operating

personnel as the battery room and batteries there were at a l l times i n

readiness f o r emergency use

Ve were aot q u a l i f i e d research cheauats bat auiy t i n 8 ve were

called upon to dc experiments -hich had we had chemistry trailt Jng we

probably would have had better re s u l t s instead of f a i l u r e s At one time

Mr ford was auch interested i a using f l a x (a product of aany farms) as

a base f o r portions of the Ford car but he soon discontinued interest i n

f l a x and instead turned to soybeans for research This soyheaa research

was not under our j u r i s d i c t i o n but research continued f o r quite a few

years and r-any products were developed using soybeans as a Use

at one La-c the nors-uetaiiic portions of the Model steering

wheel used compressed straa or cfiaff as a portion of the product

-101-

Mr Edison also gave Mr Ford tbe hint that copper could he

made In sheet f a m by having i t plated directly onto r o l l s the r o l l s

being partly submerged in copper salts and scrap copper added i a chip

and staving form dissolving in s a l t s and thereby rising and plating to

drums or r o l l s This produced copper i n sheet forcopy but i t vas coarse

ragged not uniform in thickness and a very slow costly process

Several swaths after Mr Fords small kni fe deal he asked Mr

Milt Smith to make hto a two-inch diameter cannon not elaborate but

suitable f o r use with BB shot Mr Smith had had arsenal experience and

was acquainted i i t i rc-coi- aampS- ij and alt~uii HHCS^ aa -fort tc please

Mr lord i s êo to stale -re tstt 4r iord umn sot reproached Mr

Smith about the knife deal and Smith had found out only from others of

Mr f o rd s dissatisfaction for the length of tiae taken She sketches

made by Mr Ford were of such a nature that he himself realised they conshy

veyed practically noising so therefore was re luctant bullbull0 laake any atshy

tempts sir hitt -aadr a cnjbji having a cast i ron har^-h coriage and

nount and cast Iron wiweis witraquo- a breocn loading iêcJemism an- r e c o i l assem-

L i y of stee 1 He delivered Li to Mr Ford ibhoit asking rany questions

However when this cannon was completed Mr Ford said Yes its nice

Just push i t over near the wall Its too late to shoot sparrows now

anyway

f h i s way of thanking us did not help the aoraie of Uw departshy

ment very much but i t seems we were bears for punishment On the next

raquo102-

job we were a t i t a g a i n with the same e a t h u s i a s a bat Mr Smith was v e r y

downcast and v e r y conscious o f tbe f e e l i n g M r Ford bad toward h i a I

l a v e seen this cannon i n the Museum b a t I doubt whether the present

s t a f f hacopy any knowledge o f i t s h i s t o r y 1 m s a s s i s t a n t to M r Smith

a l t h o u g h no one ever informed me t o that extent

M r Ford quite often came over to t a l k Be u s u a l l y extended

h i s hand for a hand slakemdashalways with a serious e x p r e s s i o n on h i s face

When shaking hands q u i t e o f t e n he was l o o k i n g beyond you leaving you

standing there with h i s l i m n cold hand in yours Ee hated to he asked

questions and to avoid being asked he threw questions at you many a

time walking away i f hesitant i n answering His questions at t imes

were sumdash s i a a i I saymdashabsurd that one wondered whether he was s e r i o u s

or aot Many a q u e s t i o n he asked was so r i d i c u l o u s l y simple tljat we

wonderedIf he r e a l l y knew or a o t

I had found that by showing my Bearbom badge a t the Highland

Paris p l a n t i Imi a o r e or Less f r e e range i n ay wander legs and oaw c o n shy

s i d e r a b l e o f the Highaind park f a c t o r y which was not open to t- e p u b l i c

I n one o f my c o n t a c t s 1 mentioned t h i s t o Mr ford i n the hopes he would

be pleased wi th the i n t e r e s t 1 was t a k i n g i n my work by going out evenshy

ings on my o w n i n i t i a t i v e to f i n d out more regarding the methods used i n

tte xaarufacture of atomobiles I was surprised when ie reprimanded ae

f o r the atove 1 tad rsade His a t t i t u d e was t h a t he p r e f e r r e d I i s employees

t o be o r i g i n a l aad t o develop t h e i r own i d e a s and not t o be copycats and

-103-

d o t h i n g s i n t h e e s t a b l i s h e d or conventional Banner He f i n i s h e d h i s

l i t t l e speech-to a e by s a y i n g T h e y ( m e a n i n g t h e Highland P a r i gang) are a b u n c h of mdash

C J S m i t h known a s Jiiaay t o a l l o f us laid no s p e c i a l t i t l e

but w a n d e r e d a b o u t m a k i n g s u g g e s t i o n s and c r i t i c i s m s a s he saw f i t lie-

was hard to t a l k t o a n d v e r y seldom w o u l d he s t a n d s t i l l l o n g enough for a m u t u a l e x c h a n g e o f t h o u g h t s He wae always w i l l i n g to c r i t i c i z e t h e

ideas of the college graduates who had no practical knowledge o f mechanics He sometimes got so worked up b y their ideas that he eventually d r o p p e d a discouraging hint o f disapproval He d r o v e to work in a c a r v e r y few

t h o u g h t was one time a F o r d p r o d u c t and one d a y Vie mentioned h e w o u l d

s e l l i t for $JfXgt Although I already had a ford car I thought X w o u l d

l i k e t h i s one of his so I went t o t h e b a n k that evening (Monday) and withdrew 300 2 came to Dearborn o n a streetcar and vent directly to J i i i r a y s h o s e Mrs Smith told me he was uptown I soon locate-d the car and hia also I gave him the $300 and received o n l y the keys i n return (no t i t l e ms needed then) and started for Detroit fhis ear originally was a 1911 ford engine 53599 made i n May 1911 In 1915 or laquo16 i t had b e e n e n t i r e l y r e b u i l t and h a d a U n i v e r s a l fburabout body installed on i t I t had streamlined f e a t u r e s much l o w e r than s t a n d a r d w i r e

wheels gas tank i n t h e rear vacuum tank under the hood distributor i a p l a c e o f a caoautator foot a c c e l e r a t o r and also a k e r o s e n e b u r n i n g

c a r b u r e t o r

-10frac34-

War was on then and tbe nation lad gasicss Sn days da- ing which

t i n e no ears laquoere be lag operate-s I ventured arltt on S r-day b a r lag keroshy

sene I vas so conspicuous thai p Bcaai dropped the ide - a l tho a h I bad

no I been violating the Jaw I tad been ltraraaU arned force exe ption

o-lag to being the sole suptorgt af ay nether l u s the fact t l a the

Ford Motor Caapan ad negotiated i n behalf i n s o f a r ) s they eit that

ay services vraquore of acre v a uc T O thea titan to the amy IKr ia- the

house e_eaniug a f ter lir Fords de-ate a copy of tae original e caption

request cane to light and I proudlymdashnow i n a- gtgt-~aa tia possessor of

t h i s document

Vhen I received this car i t aad a nub i t of slapping occasional-

Ly via-out an- apparaai reason - I t - n tae t o t of aht vaf-jii tat- was re-

aoveu she tank was f a i l of gasoxine over the f l o a t life soiat-on thea

waa to disconnect tins gas l i n e frocopy the vacuus tank to the rear tank and

continue to d r i v e i t u n t i l the engine spattered f r o a lack of gasol ine

Close observation disclosed no apparent reason as to why the f l o a t i n

the mcuura tank had felled to close the valve alien umpm gas was i n the

vacuum tank for grav i ty feed to the carburetor I do not know whether

C J Smith lad t h i s trouble or not- but the car continued this unusual

performance Beverthelese i t was a nuisance despite the fact that we

had a -iiick reaedy for laee purpose of conti11 gting otacrase 1 ms uel_

pleased vith the car Several weeks -eut by and tnie trouble claquontined

and t l a c after tlac- 1 eeaioved -he cover of trc vacuum aanfc as I was sure

my trouble was chere Tncn one jay I found t h e crass F-ea for bull le gas

level valve vas out of pxace caused by snappy spring action o f uie valve 21 lis bushing when put into place and peened slightly - M u s e d ao further trouble and the ear rendered a a n y more years o f service

As the Trae~or yiawc s8 hiring more a n d aoro men and new

buildings were going ro ae well as production the U t i l e vi]iampya of

Dearborn vas experiencing a uev way of l i f e Fortunate vere th- few who

were a l i o to locate nowes or roor-s i n Dearborn Others located on the outskirts vith some locating i n V-ayne Partington and B e d f o r d Hr Pord gave his consent to biijd homes for employees and to st-41 them bullbull1 slightly over cost Soon hotnee were being built south of the Michigan Cntrai tracks aad slightly west of Howard Street 1 was o n e o f the f i r s t twenty applicants t o choose a hoae--scsaIi type but considered ample copy 1 raquo for myself and sotherbull--1 he sold a t approximately -j i A) However when COSH-

pjeted the price bad been increased saae igti so I relinquished rsy pâce i n line and continued to co-ouie traquoack and forth to Detroit

t a r 5frac34copy over now and lir Pord ma stressing the one foot on the soil idea of having his employees move to the outskirts ai do partial sarJiag there-y not relying entirely o n their daily ford vuge Or subsisshytence

As l i r L=uujstrom the Bcandiavian designer nS buiiêr of the Ford JLagle toms was available ho was transferred to Dearborn Mr Ford furl-or co hie dec ire o f hsvtny aore study placed on capturing oe water

wasted a r o u n d D e t r o i t H i s i d e a was to have s n a i l plants located on the

b a n k s o f s t r e a a s a n d to b u i l d w a t e r w h e e l s a n d t u r b i n e s a n d t o have

s e a s o n a l eiapioyment for f a r m e r s l o c a t e d i n t h o s e a r e a s She f i r s t s u c h

unit was t o be a t B a n k i n M i l l s He b o u g h t t h e o l d g r i s t K i l l t h e r e froa

t h e then o w n e r Mr B a s s e t t a n d later t h e B a r n e s Fares just w e s t o f t h e

m i l l While t h e t u r b i n e and generator w e r e being b u i l t the b u i l d i n g was

a l s o being a l t e r e d a n d r e b u i l t for t h e new purpose The f i r s t t u r b i n e

u n i t was n o t b j u n g s t r o m d e s i g n e d I was c h o s e n t o i n s t a l l same at K a n k i n

h a v i n g w o r k e d o n i t s c o n s t r u c t i o n a t D e a r b o r n T h e u n i t baa r U g o v e r n i n g

aieehanieis i a a cup-ahaped cast iron housing the top of vrhici v s g r o u n d -

f l o o r l e v e l hove t h L e was te generator T h r e e v e i g b t e (hat s b a p e d )

a n d t h r e e adjustauc laquoyingo wire t o f u n c t i o n in c o n t r o l l i n g u n i f o r m rpta

for t h e generator

D u r i n g a y three weeks a t Mankin M r F o r d was o u t ther 1 s e v e r a l

t i a e s a n d t o o k g r e a t interest i n t h e restoration of t h e l u l l d i r aad the progress of the i n s t a l l a t i o n o f the turbine and g e n e r a l - a 1 x timbers

or p i l l a r s in t h e b u i l d i n g were hewn f r o m sycamore l o g s and trio e r

p o r t i o n s had a t t a i n e d quite a p o l i s h f r o a c o n t a c t o f h o ^ s rgtr c o t - i n g

Any d e n t s or b r u i s e s ere repaired by cutting into and s e t t l i n g therein

a n o t h e r piece of aged sycamore On one occasion he c a u g h t ae c o k i n g o a t

o f t h e window i n t o t h e t a l l r a c e I t o l d M i I was t o l d t h a t a n o l d t u r t l e

a s l a r g e a s a wash t u b was down t h e r e but I d o u b t e d i t and was e a g e r t o

see for j n y s e i f He 34 not l o o k o u t with a e but l e f t t h e b u i l d i n g and

went around to the taiiraee hiraself SOTO l o c a l hoys f o l l o w e d hist and

a s m a l l e r turtle was s e e n He told t h e hoys t o get a turtle for hia and

h e w o u l d r e t u r n f o r i t T h e hoys got a n e t a n d w i t h t h e help of copyoae

grown-ups c a u g h t several turtles On Hp Fords return be paid the boye

with a $5 b i l l f o r the t u r t l e s I k e p t looking for t h e l a r g e turtle o n

e v e r y occasion a n d eventually ms rewarded I w i l l vouch that i t truly

was as large i n diameter as a good sized tub

Although t h e entire generator aad governor unit did not function

entirely to my superiors satisfaction I was nevertheless returned to

D e a r b o r n a n d c o n t i n u e d at e x p e r t i s e u t a _ work ahe d a t e reeiao te lue to

nave b e e n the autumn o f

Ou J a n u a r y 1a t o s a t i s f y a y c u r i o s i t y I d r o v e c u t t o

N a n k i n M i l l s t o l o o k over that which 1 worked an thirty--s i x years b e f o r e

I found the g e n e r a t o r u n i t the gate operation pedestal and w h e a l and

t h e special grease gun practically the same as when 1 l e f t i t Added to

the equipment was a separate Woodward hydraulic governor unit t o replace

the acchanical one that wae integral at installation However a l l of

this raquo-as not La use and badly i n need of cleaning The old two-ball

governor was s t i H on top of t h e generator This hofceer ona regisshy

tered the rpa of tae fa-aerator T a e d i a o f the tachometer ua- c a l i b r a t e d

and saarked i n the f i e l d aad later o n reproduced i n p e r a a n e m ft m for

f i n a l installation The Ssyne County CSood B e a d s Dupampxa -nt ev3ent-y

are not the owners or proprietors T h e glossy surface of t h e i i l a r s a n d

the cleanliness B O evident vnen Mr Ford was alive have- vanishes An oie iampntfoierk salvaged laquouid restored by gth ford lor posterity stands oat on Inn irhor Eraii oo longer the pride o f the neighbor ood

Mr Jiorton vith- h i s headquarters in the powothouse b ilding at Foir lane and Hr Parkas at the Dearborn Lnglneerlug ultamp were asy on design and prelldmsry expiriiaental work on the X-type aw eool--d eight-cylinder engine uni a bullit - cIntsis TV engine (pictures o f w i e l are a v a i l a b l e at f^- gtorch gtves) - a d a fiyuteei f o r e anc aft t --e spo es of Wxc were tlaquo blade of a ia - and shaped accordingly poundbull e e^HoSis vtifue res 1 lt-red t 4 L ie gtlaquo$ c r i r e o ~ h - h and too i - novo features lucororated in lav 0(-014-11 o n e b_xiy an autoaiahic t-o-f-yeed tr-nsmlsBion

te 1 rojavror thia Lght vrcigbt ear had vire vbec is nd f o i t t - -

wheei brakes -Ire trulv- operating rods -or- concealed frou vie- by being housed inside th radius rods The irake operating ro3raquo were e-eei strips ( Ike a steel tape tiae) and 5if- various locations alor their ongtt they had rubber hnopers gtr oucks rxvt-ted to t~gtamp 00 prevent i-att bull in-

Soaeohero i n tuese years Mr Ford decided on coinp- csiplng vith Jdr l o t sou h Burroughs atxl --ir Eur bank or Firestone Qiir ci part sent van called upon to help in 221k ltig caaiping laquo jirtc-gt wore c easar bullbull One ford pickup one- binec i n and oigte Vhite bullgt ruck corv oasi iy adlt into caijp

c-quipient carriers j-osv of t)x- work as for body baii I T S anc iwinsraitbs but bullbulllaquobull did frac34frac34- t h e uable for ounting on the eanp cex r pole hdch was of stre- tubingmdashtwo taujee lower one auout seven feet i a Jiatieter

and the upper one one foot above regie upper one waa about five feet l a diameter These bailee were in too halves but when placed aroui J the camp tent center pole foraed tables or discs Ae mentioned ti-raquo upper one waa free to revolve and could be rotated by hand allowing free access to any delicacy by rotating to tne proper position

Some two years later Mr ford cane into the iitchine S op just at quitting thie carrying one of these steei tent poles now qujte rusty fie asked roe to get htu a sheet of emery cloth with which to polish this pole I offered to polish the tubing but he insisted he could gto i t I

escorted hia to a lathe having a three-jaw universal chuck on sum and not in use and chucked mac for him I showed him the operati g -ever and then proceeded to the crib to get hale the desired enery clo-h A l shythough i t vas a s t r i c t rule around the shop that we were never vo use

eaery cloth I nevertheless argued vith the crib aan that that ltras what

Mr Ford wanted 1 asked him vho he was to ret me Mr Fords request ec he delivered -one sheet of nice emery cloth to ae which- I i n turn gave to Hr Ford 1 again offered to help but my offer was declined Again I put on agjr cost and started for hoaey happy i n the thought 1 wss able to help Mr 7ord

However the next morning the sparks flew bether lt r lord lad used this tubing as a ruse to find out for hiiaself i f eaer- cioth was available I do not know In the eyes of a i l supervision was the goat for not having offered bin sandpaper which was a v a i l a b l e and used

-110-

daily by us for similar work I also unknowingly bad gotten the tool

crib employees i a du tch as o rde r s bad been t h a t no emery cloth vas t o be

in stock Mr B r i e k e r even came over our way to lower the boom on me

and even with the customary grin on his face he could use forceful words

not appearing well i n print

I n the autumn of IylO the Tractor division moved to the Bouge

and l e f t behind them quite a few machine tools Just about the same

time a Mr John Sorenson and h i s crew o f toolmakers moved to the Dearborn

shop vacated by the Tractor toolmakers Mr John Sorenson had been well

liked by Mr Ford at the Highland Park Experimental Department On his

a r r i v a l a t Dearborn 1 was automatically demoted and M r Smith was made

assistant to Mr Sorenson

The layoff came in 1920 and most of us were sent home unti l

called back again t was fortunate enough t o be retained although being

single I was slated t o be l a i d o f f also u n t i l Jim Smith heard about i t

and told me to cone i n and he would see to i t that I had work The departshy

ment soon was having a l o t o f work and employees previously l a i d o f f were

soon returning We had started work on ten more generators and parts for

hydro units similar t o the one at Nankin but lacking the governor unit

In 1921 I was sent t o Phoenix Michigan to i n s t a l l another hydro

unit using a governor designed by Mr Ljungstrom This u n i t also was

causing trouble but progress was being made i n improving i t s performance

but work was discontinued a g a i n f o r the t ime being

-111-

Mr C W Avery later president of tbe Murray Body Corporation

who in some raquoampgt was in charge of the new hydro plants had tvo jrits aademdash

each having a Lincoln motor directly connected to a generator wbarety i f

the water failed auxiliary power would be available Before 1 l e f t two

of these units -were delivered to the Phoenix plant receiving dock That

same evening Mr Ford came out to inspect the Phoenix installation and

spied these two power plants I was told the next day that Mr Ford

asked the night vatchsan what those things were In reply he was told

that they were being placed i n the basement so that when there was no

water to run the turbines the shop could s t i l l operate Mr Ford evidently

had not known of this or had been told that they would be delivered

that day and knew a l l the while they were being b u i l t He ordered the

watchman to locate Mr Averys home address and have them delivered onto

his (Mr Averys) front porch isamedlately as he saw no reason to expect

lack of water power Although these power units were mode elsewhere

they soon Were brought to Dearborn and stored until Lincoln engines beshy

came obsolete Then they were dismantled and sent to salvage

The reason for Mr Ford rejecting these auxiliary power units

i s well understood as when he publicized his intention of harnessing the

streams close to Detroit many scoffed at the idea bringing to is attenshy

tion the fact that at times only a t r i c k l e of water went over the old

dams About a year after the generators were installed I was again sent

out there I found about forty employees working there at the fabricating

-112-

and assembling of automotive current regulators Some power was being developed but welding of regulator parts was being done elsewhere insofar as the electric current developed wae not a m p l e for welding p r o c e s s This u n i t of Ford manufacturing in late 1955 was not in use and a l s o deteriorashyt i n g The power u n i t a l s o stands i n t a c t in f u l l view of Plymouth N o r t h -

v i l l e auto t r a f f i c S p a n n e r s a n d o p e n - e n d w r e n c h e s a r e s t i l l o a t b e w a l l

mounted on a wooden display board In other words thirty-four years h a v e changed i t slightly

Sometime a r o u n d 1921 o r 1922 when i t was r u m o r e d lampU S t r e e t

was t r y i n g t o get i n t o t h e F o r d Motor p i c t u r e t h e Company f e l t t h e n e e d

of cash and two of tbe then r e m a i n i n g five houses of Elm S t r e e t n o r t h of t h e r a i l r o a d were c o n v e r t e d i n t o b u s i n e s s p l a c e s a n d t o o l s and s u p p l i e s

were offered for sale i bought pipe w r e n c h e s screw drivers hand d r i l l s a t o o l b o x a n d many o t h e r a r t i c l e s most o f w h i c h h a d t h e word F o r d

p l a i n l y stamped o n t h e m Some f e l l o w s b o u g h t work b e n c h e s a n d v i s e s b u t

I d i d n t I a l s o b o u g h t a thirty - d r a w e r c a b i n e t s u b s t a n t i a l l y constructed of o a k for | 5 a n d a standard size blow torch for $3

M r F o r d was q u i t e a f o o d fad1st a n d q u i t e w i l l i n g t o s w a l l o w

a n y o n e s t h e o r i e s o n f o o d a n d t h e i r v a l u e s He was a l s o q u i t e willing t o

d i a g n o s e a n y o n e s symptoms b u t i n v a r i a b l y came up w i t h the a n s w e r t b a t s o

a n d so e a t s t o o much s u g a r and a l l a iJUaents were a t t r i b u t e d t o t o o h i g h a

c o n s u m p t i o n o f s u g a r One time he p a s s e d o u t s m a l l b o o k l e t s e n t i t l e d

C h e m i c a l S t a r v a t i o n Another t i m e he a d v o c a t e d weeds a s f o o d a n d h i s

-113-

c h e f s did aake up good tasting s a n d w i c h e s made of green w e e d s salad d r e s s i n g and whole wheat tread Another tiae he thought t h a t dry bread o n l y should be eaten and c a r r i e d crusts of old bread around in his pockets He had s m a l l t e n - c e n t s t o r e nutmeg g r a t e r s f a s t e n e d t o p o s t s a r o u n d i n

c o r n e r s o f - t h e s h o p a n d u s e d to g o t o t h e s e r e m o v e t h e d r y bread f r o m

h i s p o c k e t s a n d t h e n g r a t e off t h e w e a t h e r e d o r pocket-worn s u r f a c e a n d

eat t h e bread l i r Ford came in one t i m e ^ u s t a f t e r a h e a v y r a i n storm d u r i n g

w h i c h t i m e o u r f l o o r was p a r t l y u n d e r w a t e r ke were b u s y pusbi-ig t h e

e x c e s s water b a c k into f l o o r d r a i n s f r o m w h i c h w a t e r had come co he s a i d

t o lae whats the m a t t e r D o e s t h e r o o f l e a k f

bull 1 s a i d S o Mr F o r d t h e f l o o r l e a k s t h i n k i n g h e would c a t c h o n bull H o w e v e r be evidently didnt a s 1 g o t a n a w f u l dirty l o o k a s

h e w a l k e d away t h i n k i n g ao d o u b t o f ay seemingly s a r c a s t i c a n s w e r t o h i s

question Oa ay return f r o m tia- Phoenix installation I found Jar M i l t

Smith - a s hissing 1 was told t h a t the method used was just t i have the watchman at the gatt refuse him e n t r a n c e and as such he vas to take the h i n t T h i s oiethod of g e t t i n g -aa Smith out of circulation die aot a p p e a r

to Allan K o r t o n whw recognised and valued M i l t S m i t h s a b i i i y a n d was i n s t r u m e n t a l i n h a v i n g Smith l e a v e B u r r o u g h s t o work w i t h h i m M r S o r t o n

told Mr f o r d -so a n d s o o n t h e r e a f t e r M r S o r t o n l e f t le was o n e swell f e l l o w to work with On his l e a v i n g he told ae t h a t he e o u l d not feel

- I l k

the same towards Mr Ford and th e r e f o r e f e l t i t best t o sever connections

Mr Hicks then carae into the picture and I was en p aced as

assistant to Mr John Sorenson I believe Mr Hicks had been the air

Corps and wae c l o s e l y acccisred with Colonel h e l l o f ifaii bcc aoturs

te Hicks qua-lificatloixS sâ-atd t o appeal to Mr hdsca Jord mo F Iran

to Beary Ford

Aa boat racing was Baking quite a hit around D e t r o i t Ford also

became i n t e r e s t e d aad f o r a half-dosea years t r i e d to have a superior

boat i l l s b o a t smdashthe fQarfiah wWoodfish G o l d f i s h r and Miss Dear-

born--were products of our Dearborn Engineering Laboratory although

soae h a l l s were made by Hacker Boat Works in D e t r o i t

neither the Garfish nor the Voodflsh nor the S o l d f i s h

brought any honors to our staff but did give quite a few cf ue a good

l i v i n g I laquoas down a t the waterfront one evening putting soae f i n a l

touches t o oae o f the Ford boats She was quartered i n a p i t just neat

to a toat oa ed Baby Sure C ra I f appearance muanh anytlr -j

money would AV been L u t on Fords boat b u t i t didnt vtc - -a rKies

Dearborn vas t o have been a hnockout The bulkheads -trlaquo c f ist alumshy

inum alloy and the shin was of Sural with a l l seams welded The engine

was X design -and was a twenty-four cylinder job This ms Mr l i c k s

baby He was allowed fuu use of h i s design a b i l i t i e s and theories His

method of strutting siraquo s t a f f and use o f b i g words avlaquo bdquos t impression

t h a t Sir l i c k s thought q u i t e w e l l o f hi m s e l f

One day while w o r k i n g o n tbe b o a t Jack Grieves h o l l e r e d Hey

l i c k s have you seen Mr Jampuraold1 M r K a r u o i d was a f e l l o w employee

w o r k i n g w i t h Jack Grieves

We d i d n o t r e a l i s e what had b e e n s a i d u n t i l Mr H i c k s repeated

this s a y i n g 5 f l i c k s have you sees Mr H i c k s did n o t raile

b u t we c a u g h t o n t o what h e would h a v e l i k e d t o h a v e b e a r d aaaiely M r

H i c k s h a v e you seen fernoid

l a t e r on a f t e r we had moved Into the new b u i l d i n g we were

l a a c h i a i n g p i s t o n s for the twenty-four cylinder k - t y p e engine Several

tiiiies M r bull Ford had m a d souc rerorks g i v i n g u s to understand that h e did

n o t approve of what Mr H i c k s was d o i n g I n s o f a r a s E d s e l a a d Br H i c k s

were aore o f an a g e t h a n benrbdquo F o r d J-Jcnior a n d Ife Hicks t h e r e seemed

t o be a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e t w e e n thea the p i s t o n s we were m e h i n i n g

were of Cow aetal (magnesium) aade by Dow Chemical Coapany M i d l a n d M i c h i shy

gan H e n r y F o r d i n g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e s h o p one d a y s t o p p e d am s a i d j u s t

t h e s e few w o r d s t o the employee w o r k i n g o n thea P i s t o n s a a d e o f s a l t mdash

h a ha ha

I enjoyed w o r k i n g with M r Hicks i n s o f a r as he v a s up t o date

on a l ] new p e t a l s and i u e a s ara furthermore could a p p l y h i s o bullbull ideas and

ing e n u i t y t o everyday designs He was not imune to th--- p r o b i i s I r - y s e i f

was h a v i n g a t that t f c e mdash v i z putting on avoirdupois--and quite often our

t a l k s were along t a t l i n e He d e f i n i t e l y carae t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t

o v e r w e i g h t was c a u s e d by o v e r e a t i n g a n d saany t i m e s i n the y e a r s t o f o l l o w

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he restricted h i a in t a k e o f food The f a b r i c a t i n g o f this twenty-four c y l i n d e r -type engine

presented proolercs so d i f f e r e n t frou our everyday problems bach day became a challenge and each successive accomplishment a c e r t a i n degree

of s a t i s f a c t i o n It i s t r u e that outwardly ae were a s k i n g a boat engine

but any b r i g h t idea developed aad perfected could te shaved f o r f u t u r e use F a i l u r e s i f actually considered failures could t-a reaeut i r e c as

aucb

D j r i a y tap fabrication of t h i s engine a i l o f whiea vas done a t the hearborn i ngitu-v-ring laboratory Machine fahop we heard tat the p o s i t i o n i n g o f the crankshaft crank throws lad a c c i d e n t a l l y beea r e shy

versed Hie crankshaft was made according to p r i n t and when discovered

the d i r e c t i o n of r o t a t i o n had t o be reversed or the crankshaft scrapped

This ruaor was never c o n f i r a e u and I have never found oat tat a swer The boat ahen f i n i s h e d never proved seaworthy ihlaquo auor tlaquoe

welded searae f a i l e d or whether the hull was in some way i n f e r ic bull in deshysign 1 do not know V i t ^ txx- constant t w i s t i n g and ha-as-ie-ring of the boat in rough water i t could not take the punishment as d i d the s o r e

flexible wooden hull

good f r i e n d Jack Dewar c a r r i e d t o h i s grave the scars on

h i s f a c e and head caused by the Fords attempts to t r y boat r a c i n g I t

seems l a c k i n the twenties he was a c t i n g as mechanic on one o f these

boats alien the hatch cover broke loose and h i t Mm on the head Jack

-117-

Bewar wampe one o f the fellows brought to Bearbom by John Sorenson at the tiiae of hie coming to hearborn ia 1910 having previous- been e ployed at the Highland Park plant Yt-ars before he was a resident of tiorris-vilie MLIchignr

It is a problem for me to write these words realizing that the word T appears so often but these memoirs are of sy rcoljeet Ion and better remembered by ise insofar as I played the part and can bet er reuerc-ber in detail ay own actions hs others have contributeJ so ac of their aeraoirs I husfely beg to be excused for the prolific use o f the pronoun I

In the Ifew Engineering Laboratory In the autum of l2h we aoved our department into th nev

Engineering Laboratory a building ampxgt feet by Sou feet and dc-s gned by Albert Kamphtt at that time considered the best in i t s day Eher- were mny windows overhead and the building was aot air conditioned The original design called for a standard railroad track up the ce- er rmy and also a huge crane in the center bay running north and soutl for ampX feet fh track idea wss blackballed before any tracks had be laid and although the center hay had the cranevay rails built in there never has been a crane run oa i t

A Souge nan had been directed to aake a layout of ou- machinery and have thea placed to the best advantage then known For a eek this party warn cutting out atniature lachine tease shape a and placing them i n

-llo-

t ae allotted a res f o r e f f i c i e n t o p e r a t i o n However wnetgt the uo ing

a c t u a l l y started lir John Soreasan tre s jperintondent of the Jw anine

Si op (no r e l a t i o n va b- Charges i i o r e n 3 e t ) i g n o r t u a l l h uepr l I s

arrangeaente and pians and used h i s ova i deas o f p l a c i n g the rachines

vl thoat any sketch ox l ayou t w-atever Ie p laced the jacalncs t - L A S

l i k i n g T h i s arrangement was so wei3 planned i n the uLU of Mr John

Sorenson that a f t e r tae iyacbiaes vera placid ao rt-arraagese-nt as ever

aade Tee aachinea r c r n i n e d put until the department was aoved t o the

bullbullianex soae twenty years la ter vgthen cangeb were aade phuitwise

Inso fa r as raquoc were aov in a nev fcuilding witi vixed a ap l e

flooring our sfcojj was Henry l o r d s p r i d e and j o y Shortly t h e r e a f t e r

he placed a h a i l i-rer a t the south end o f oar shop and e hung l i s coat

and t a t lucre lis-- a i s o had a saa_ 1 t a b i c and two c h a i r s the re and mde

nany appoiafcacnts for jjeetlng a t t h i s l o c a t i o n

The Machine Shop eamppioyeee were requested t o wear whi te s h i r t s

clean whi te aprons he bareheaded and otherwise a p p l y themselves approshy

p r i a t e l y t o the new surroundings So cu sp ido r s were provided l a the new

shop vaich proved troubles-one t o soucopy vgtno i n s i s t e d oa erawing t obacco

Sake even q u i t the habit later exp re s s ing themselves -tr- thankfu l tiAt

c u s p i d o r s wore not provided Some adapted the ftoage siotbod of Manipushy

lating the tongue aad l i p s i n such a manner so as i a expectorating o n l y a

spray f i l l e d the a i r Others used the c h i p b a r r e l s aad soae had m i n i a t u r e

cusp ido r s in t h e i r tool boxes while others used tbe drinking f o u n t a i n s

thinking they vere not seen doing so An amusing Incident occurred here Our sweeper who had been

told shout the white shirt request was the victim of a Joke played on his by his fellow employees The Monday worming we aoved In he appeared wearing a white barber coat That was what he was told we a i l vould be

wearing However he alone had on a white barber coat

A l l cabinets possible were cut down to kS inches high The tool and stock cribs likewise had racks and cabinets the same height and devoid of any fencing or locks This was Mr Fords wish as he liked to see from wall to wall froa wherever he happened to be By having this

tool crib open day and night the question arose regarding whether this was a wise move to rave a i l tools and supplies openly exposed tempting those who -alght be inclined to steal Mr Fords answer to thia vas that no doubt there would be some stealing for awhile but when their needs were supplied the stealing would stop Heedless to say locks were soon needed as valuable tools and supplies as v e i l as tool checks seemed to disappear

For ten years an aisle ko feet vide by tbe length of the building

which was 000 feet was l e f t vacant i n the center of the building This afforded o f f i c i a l s spectators and celebrities ample room for their

proBjenade Floors were waxed and polished daily however floors i n the Machine Shop soon showed signs of wear Rubber mts were provided for a l l machines and benches and xaany of then were saade special to conform to the

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shape of the m e h i n o bases

Three dytiamaseters were las ted l e d at the nor th end of the

building These wore as f a r ltriay as p o s s i b l e f r o a the snail ate I f o f

engineers who occupied the south end o f the building

Trie bearborr Independent occupied about four or f i v e ays he

by bo ieot at the nortf west end o f the building They hlttd throe l a r g e

hoe p resses as veJ 1 aa sraa-Uer-job p r e s s e s Linotypes paper s Bars

anu hano-set-up benches occupied the ba l ance Paper i n t o n r o i s was

aoved d i r e c t l y frosa the r a i l w a y s i d i n g onto the e l e v a t o r t hea i n t o the

basement and onto a conveyer -which c a r r i e d the r o i l s t o w i t h i n a few fee t

of the baste o f the p resses which extended t o the basement Baled waste-

paper was a l s o removed by reversing the o p e r a t i o n

Tiie two bays a t the southwest end o f the lab were partitioned

o f f and used by the Dearborn s choo l c h i l d r e n f o r o l d - f a s h i o n e d dance

i n s t r u c t i o n s O c c a s i o n a l l y the grown-ups a l s o assembled there i n the

evenings f o r dance I n s t r u c t i o n s Those two bays had a suspended ceiling

f o r the iaproveaent o f the a c o u s t i c s and i t a l s o helped t o confine the

a c t i v i t y a l l o t t e d t o d a n c i n g Draftsaen were o c c a s i o n a l l y seen seated

o u t s i d e the a l l o t t e d danc ing area Ihese s p e c i a l draftsmen a l t hough

bullseemingly busy a t aaking tracings and such f o r a u t copy n a t i v e use were i n

r e a l i t y mm with considerable aaaioal exper ience and knowledge fhey were

endeavoring t o put onto paper the notes p layed by o l d f i d d l e r s and aysicians

raany o f which cou ld not read suslc and aore o r l e s s p layed the tunes ae

-121-

they had heard thea played or modified other tunes to suit their tastes S t two hagtn used for dancing purposes each )bullbull foot bj rgt0 foot-

had a drop curtain bet-ecp a ua ana one day sialLo Mr Perus orchestra

aeahers were relvârait^ one- of these old numbers a youry janitxv in the

other half of the dance area vas dancing with I t s brocsa as a partner when

Mr ford walked In This seesampngiy put the janitor in aa awkward position

but a conversation started in which this fellow confessed to Mr Ford Ms

interest i n aueic and dancing Believe i t or not Mr Ford seat to his

boa a duleimr loade by the Ford workmen at the Village- Shops

The employees seeaeo to adapt themselves to their new environshy

ment quite well but a polished aple floor was not the ideal place to do

Machine bhop ork The Mac taery Hagazine ran amp lengtay article including

several illustrations ai the rachire shop in the parlor aad arc eicnnliy

Mr ford could be seen with a smile on his face showing tills oddity to

notables

The forty-foot wide asiia aisle over which Mr ford mm o f f i c i a l s

strolled daily gave as plenty opportunity to see and be seen -a also

eould get a gi lapse of the may notables who for various reasoaa had come-to see Mr Ford as they miked this path soae tiae daring taeij v i s i t

Insofar as the Ford Hospital was also one- of -Jr lords hobblecopy

the children of the various schools in the viitage received free aedxeal examinations and earcopy there However Mr Ford at tisacs caned the

staff there just a bonch of experiiiKSitere

122-

Many times i t a l s o proved a disadvantage t o have d a i i j con tac t

vitu Mr F o r d he wanted t o know and usuaiiv knew evfzytting l A t was

going o n and f i t t e d nhe srop v i l work o f f the beaten pooh of a- onotive

experiments lie waraquot cd each evpioyeo t o know about each pan i s the shop

and was d i s t u r b e d i f an cwpioyce when a sked d i d not m v e an ai aver

readv He a l s o bad a h a b i t of b r i n g i n g i n work and g i v i n g i t tgt any o f

the employee t o d o f o r h i a T i s a t tiaes caused eonf slon as soae

would not n o t i f y s u p e r v i s i o n w h i l e o the r s were not capable t o d- the

work Ve found i t to our advantage t o he l i s t e n e r s and n o t cxg -una olaquor

t h e o r i e s no mat ter hov p r a c t i c a l they ltaay have t een the r a y a v e been

lust c o n t r a r y t o Iis t h e o r i e s I f ve d i d have- o c c a s i o n t o d i s c iss some

p r o b i e n w i t h hl j i i t na usual bes t t o wait and see o r hear ft he was

f e e l i n g on ti-at day This was easy as our grapevine was quite o i e r t

1 night quote a n ex-ioue here o f vjiat happened one d e y -o

Had s l i d i n g doors i n our department operated eiectrica ly by p r s s s i n g a

b u t t o n nearby One nay t h e Ford ear was d r i v e n In by George F reus tnen

the cnauffeur tr Ford d iscounted and s t a r t e d f o r Mr Cauipea - I s o f f i c e

Burns backed toe car o u t turalt~d i t a round a n d backed Xa so as- t o be in

r ead ines s t o cave d i r e c t l y unon Mr Ford 1 G r e t u r n h rus the l e f t the

c a r and went o n en errand t o t h e south end o f the buihiirg 1 idontiy

M r Campsall wasnt i n so M r Ford iorsedlately r e tu rned t o ths ca r una Mr

Bums as not there he leaned over onto the horn hut--on o f course

everyone looked t o see where the no ise was ceasing from Burnt eaae runn ing

-123-

and Jumped into the drivers seat 1 believe every employee as standing behind a naehine or post watching Then i n the confusion the dcors failed

There were several switches i n various places to operate these doors but they w o u l d nt open bar us Vuiped out and tried to slide the dor rs nanuaiiy 1 was nearby also but concern a d from view by a post ard reanzag that Burns could use sotTC -ep X ran over to help him push Mr Ford sa laquoae

and l e f t the car co In _y wa and he gave ae the dickeas for n keeping

the door slides greased (Incidentally another departn-nt had een deleshy

gated the responsibility of maintaining the proper operating of doors) However this was unusual as 3h Ford seldom took i t onto himself to reshyproach anyoaa as he usxvly --e-fe tbat to others

Ford nad luiê a lei orchards mm the one at the corner northshy

west of Galley auu hie -igan avenue was the best He did not approve of spraying the trees saying that spray material k i l l e d the bugs and the

birds ate the bugs thereby also getting poisoned He f e l t that enough birds could keep the bug population down In tiae inferior apples were produced and eventually a seeiaixigiy healthy young orchard ms uprooted and destroyed rather than submit to spraying and admit defeat

At one tiae- he wished to have the name Ford on his quality

apples His aethod wa3 to cat the word Ford i n script thron a thin sheet of aiunimaa aad then wrap the aiuainum around the apple while s t i l l on the tree and have the sans rays color the apple where expoued or preshyvent the coloring of the apple wfeere covered Bad we at that time gone

deeper iato the subject and used a snore flexible or pliable aateriai than aiusiiuuffi I believe the attempt would have been acre successful

One day Mr Slpple aad iayseif were standing together near the doorway when 14 Pord drove i n Although we were not talking shop I nevertheless continued there talking instead of walking away on Ms apshyproach At a slight distance he gave us a nod of greeting Thea 1laquo

miked up from the rear and put a hand on jay shoulder and one on Mr Slpples shoulder and said I just sold agr white elephant for $30000000 11a ha hsr He of course meant the DfampI Bailroad

Another tiae a fellow who was a draftaoaa had a large Buhl catalog open oa his board Mr Ford walked over and looked down at the catalog and said to the fellow Just what I want (This fellow was building a hosts i n his spare tiae and had the page open at nails for

fastening Into concrete) Set m one of every size they have l i s t e d This fellow was dunfounded aad did not know -hat to do lie asked Mr

Sorensen who suggested that the nails be procured which was done Mr

Ford never returned although the nailreg were kept bandy for aonths

Mr Ford did not believe in charity and used various ways and means to have bis grants and liandouts to look otherwise One of the

supervisory staff was at home sick for some tiae and being an iid-tifiraquor Mr Ford tent to h i 3 boac- to see 11- Upon L e a v i n g lit asked ie sick nan (yhow ie sauted to h e l p isoueooo a n d stiu not h a v e i t jouk ilk caarity)

what kind of tree that was i n his yard The sick aaaa told his i t was

nothing unusual but I Ford said I want that tree and w i l l send my aen out to get i t Tbe sick nan received a check by m i l bat the tree

bullme not disturbed and never called for

Mr Ford anu iaymit wore going Into the front offices one tiae A narrow corridor about k feet vide by plusmny fec-t long was the usunl means of getting to t i e offices frura trlt- shop l a the narrow hallway we met a woisan vith a 3oungater about five or six years old 1 eard la or that she vas on her way to the pay window for her husbands hortrJgh iy pay

(He was sick that day and the day before) Bhe- fas so fturprxseu at seeshying bullamp Ford she hollered out 0h Mr Ford and stood there snaring at

hia u n t i l we got by He aade sowc rerark to ae to offs the cibarrass-

aent he f e l t

jiS soon as wc were through the corridor he excused hi a s c f aad said Ihm going to give the hoy a watch He ent tc tbe -atc repair shop nearby but the smlx watches he -ad for that purpose were out oi supply at that t i i i e Of course the boy didnt get any watch

hi sen the Model A was put on tbe raarket i t was hoped mat the end of the va^ve would not wear unto the push rod the way the hodel I had Therefore the valve vas jaade uitb a knob or foot on fee cud g viag the

valve t r i p l e the area and contact on the push rod Trds required that the valve fruide he rade i n two halves To oakc an efficient lung-lived

xeak-proof vo bull ve and puide the valve guide castings v-re c i i i ed or of hardened aiefcai This required that the entire guide he ground In order

to mtke the partis sampterche^geahte tbe limits were close mi good workmanshys h i p was n e c e s s a r y 7- ousands of dollars were spent to ucconp bull sb these desires S e v t m J I Serial precision grinders of Gerzaan riant T C t r i e d

but i t was saar discovered tat this was the p r o d u c t i o n o t t l e t a c k I

aade t h e suggest i o n t at t e a i v e guide be aade i n oae piece t h e valve i n s e r t e d a a i t h e n the foot v- _ded on aad ground t o l e n g t h

My s u g g e s t i o n seened t o be well r e c e i v e d but a t t h e r e g u l a r

noon c o n f e r e n c e o f o f f i c i a l s the i d e a was turned down and sore o n t y was

spent on trying to hold the gthalts to within A m c h i u e was manushy

f a c t u r e d vt-ic1 wae t o use a g r i n d i n g wheel 1i inches i a d i a m e t e r and JJiij i n c h wide and d r e s s te 1^52) r a d i u s on p e r i p h e r y Tttraquo failed badly and i n the end a softer material aas substituted which could be broached and p r o d u c t i o n -vas attained

Aiaait ijaif of t h e employee l a o u r d e p a r t a e n t were w o r k i n g at repairing and rebuilding ste-aa engines both for the Museum and m Village She assembly of t i esc engines vas handled by B i l l Miller an O J 1 friend of Mr F o r d s I n c i d e n t a l l y one tiiae Mr Miller had h i s falaquo between Michishygan avenue and F o r d Bead which now i s t h e p r i v a t e r o a d g o i n g i n f r o n t of f a i r Lane and Mr Ford purchased this frora h i a

l i r K i l l e r brought laquo j u i t e a b i t o f work and at tixamp s brought the o l d worn-out p a r t s to us and we would r e p a i r theraquo as necdeo at t l a e s

quite a few o f these parts ware missing at which time He 4 i l er would r e q u e s t a d r a f t s m a n to draw up whatever was needed and we would t h e n make

-127-

the parts On oae o f these occasions ve were furnished a print of a

pulley vhleh had so dimensions i a the thousands but a notation pointing

to the bore in the pulley said Peas gtpound This vas a- v e i l ad good but in reaming vhe employee didnt check the reamer o r rouble c ack the size of the hole after reaming therefore the pulley was delivered having

the hole 001 small

Sow Insofar as the draftsman s soae hoo to igt00 f ee t froct

B i l l Millers department he had forgotten whether the shaft on which t he

pulley fitted had a keyway or aot bat we were given the print and the

draftsman Intended to Later on add whether the pulley required a keyway

or set screw However before this information got to us we delivered

the pulley thinking that i t needed a set screw hole which they could

easily put l a at Asoeaubly

Mr Ford happened to he there when i t was discovered that the pulley aad the hole too snail tc slide on the shaft at which 1 im someone

remarked i a i l press the shaft into the pulley and ro keyway or set screw - ( i l l be aeeded at a l l -tr Fords rand at once drifted o automoshybile design and soon he wondered why this would not work Shortly thereshy

after the water pusp pulley and lapelier became one unit without keyways

as s e l l as other units tJ raquorcby saving a i a t of tine on cattin keyways

A t the t i a e Calvin Coolidge was President an Otd sap bucket of

wood was received from the last and accepted by the Museum stagtf as forraerly

-128-

owned fey t ee f a t h e r o f P r e s i d e n t Coo l idge Hie newspapers printed the

good news h A they didnt print t ha t sonlt_ jokoster sone -eehcopy t tter

sent the Museum quite a few o l d oorthiess sap buckets hxpress C ji i e c t

While we were work ing on the V-3 engine we usee t o hai bull= a s i x -

c y i i a d e r engine on a c r a d l e and p o r t a b l e Vhen d i r e c t e d we wot-id move

thia unit close to the m i n ais l e to the f o i l view of visitors f o r the

purpose of d e c e p t i o n

Hr F o r d a t one t i m e got the jews-barp i d e a and had v a r i o u s

sakes with M s levertheless he a l s o had us make s e v e r a l trying t o get

a tone more s u i t a b l e to h i a t a s t e s o r r e c o l l e c t i o n s

Soae pages hack I mentioned t h a t i n my you th 1 had spent twenty-

one months i n the manufacture o f bu t tons o f ivory and p e a r l T-e company

eventually failed o v i y g to f o r e i g n c o m p e t i t i o n I knew these o l d machines

used i n bu t ton mnufactare were f o r s a l e cheap I a l a o realiaed t he a t shy

t r a c t i o n o f bu t ton ffiakiag i n the Village but kept the information f r o a Hr

Ford f o r f ea r be would delegate ae t o set up a bu t ton f a c t o r y i n t he V i l shy

l a g e 1 knew that be s ides my o the r work I cou ld not do i t justice low

that p l a s t i c bu t tons have taken over e n t i r e l y 1 aa sorry laquoraquo old a r t has

gone i t s way

Dae day a a Italian woman a r r i v e d a t the lobby w i t h her s i x sons

from Eas t Detroit They bad 3 heavy card or sheet abou t h r ee f ee t square

w i t h them on which vere a t tached a l l siampes c o l o r s ano shades jf b u t t o n s

She t r i e d t o t o i l t h i s to xhe hiueeuw but the Museuia had aireacy r e c e i v e d

-129-

aany buttons f r e e Not wanting to break the womans heart they needed

a good excuse to have her depart aad they thought of ae aad my button

experience They a sited ae to see the buttons and find soae fault with

th c o l l e c t i o n Insofar as 1frac34 nother rad been a button collectr and I

have carried on the a a a o hohh bull T x f-bearbed y I felt tltat witn jy past

exjcvietict I WUG B o n i o v h a t cplusmn ^ thority a n u HUS introduced to then as

such I found t h f diap ja y ver i n t e r e s t i r y and examined them c l o s e l y

arid s t i l l had no excuse to turn 0 laquo down Eventually 1 s a i d They sure

are different 111 hot setae of them are very old and possibly came froa

the old country

She proudly said Yes 5 5 i n answer to tbis

Shis remark c l i c k e d with the party trying to send the vomn

away not too unhappy so he said I aamp sorry hut our Museum i s to be

c a l l e d Âaericana and therefore cannot use any buttons- not r vde i n

America and departure war laquo u e

Ford -ad op -rated tjc Trade School a t 80050 ior year and

riany a thue students -cr fomu laving exceptional abi ties 3auy of

these hoys tave proven thenst o amp i n industry throughout the wtcrid At

one tiwe I had fourteen of these to place to best advantage for f u r t h e r shy

ance of t h e i r talents Mr Ford wanted records kept oi their perforshy

mances 1 tried to coaply without a clerical staff but with other

duties f e l l short of doing Justice to records However when a job was

rained or considered not acceptable the part vas tagged and placed into

raquo130-

a box at tae desk Oae day ford was asking about the boys aai I tola his 1 f e l t

taey had sot bees gives the training they should have for this type of work Baring bull our talk I- also told lie ford I thought i t wrong to expect

a l l the graduates to be gifted with toolaaker a b i l i t y Insofar as these boys case froa a i l walks of l i f e and their choice of employment had sot been considered aome of them would possibly be better salesmen gardeners orators and so forth fhey were accepted into the Trade School usually because the faaiiy they were froa needed financial beic

nt o u c f he sax the poiar and vithin three hours 1 bad questionshynaire cardcopy given to ac to give to the hoys onto which ahey wtr i to exshypress thense ves regarding their alas and aabitlcns in lt Ife and as to their desiree choice of vocations profeseioae or holaies Cf rhe

t o t a l returns only one had the desire to be a toolumker This however did not end here

The next day I was called Into tbe front office and vas introshyduced to JSr Searle of the Ford Trade School by Mr Liebold and asked to have a seat This proved to be very embarrassing to ae as Mr Heboid certainly gave Mr Searle a talking to about the subject Just auctioned I marveled at the self control displayed by Mr Searle which aade Mr Liebold more eager taan ever to lower the hootsi but without success The

reasons for suy presence were never told to ae I did aot enjoy i t but i t did open ny eyes as to what Mr Heboid could say i f he wanted to

-131-

Sir Cameron of the Ford Sunday Evening Hour passed through our department daily tut for years we Just passed the tiae of day One day a cold winter day 1 was oat i a Building o which waa not- heated Be lad

just pat his car a aaa Lincoln in the Ccupany garage and was Biking

along Be didnt see ae and never knew I heard h l G say this as he walked i n late for work If I would isave- had ray old Model I and a tea kettle I could have got started l a later years le came into the shop often 1 want this understood here that I do not expect or deserve any credit for aa of poundr Caiaorons spceeres hut lie did rjany tiiace ask ft ray opinion regarding thea whxê i n the process o f preparing thea his belief was that h-e could not get a true opinion fron any of his staff or ivaa l i t e r shyary inlnded a s s o c i a t e s but f e l l 1 was a cross section o f tnose to whora

ais speeches were diraoted aad appreciated ay corsaenvs In our short and frequent t a l k s he gleaned taerefrota nana ideas for future 1 aiks

Mr Ford was very friendly wit- a Mr Stutzer who worked as a plovabing liiaintenacce usau around Dearborn be had heard t h a t t e friend-

s h i p v a s a carry-over froa Mr Fords friendship witii I4r Stutasrs father ana oa naagt occasions ve saw tie two together However a remrk Mr Ford made several years later seeaed t o iapress ulaquo with tJraquo fact t h a t

the friendship was all a bluff Hr Ututzer tad been avay oiea several ticos and his appearance revealed his healtn vas none too good when Mr Stutzer seetied about f i f t y to f i f t y - f i v e he f e l l heir to soae property which no doubt caused Ms to consider retirement For this occasion we

-132raquo

a l l contributed and bought Mr Stutzer a pocket watch for rerueampt-eanee

I n s o f a r aa Mr Stutzer was o n l y i n o u r department occasionally the watch

was put o a t h e foremans desk for contributors to see Mr Ford cease i n

that day aad spotted the watch and as his interest was i n watches years

h a c k he p i c k e d i t up and ashed about i t He was t o l d Mr Stutzer was

leaving to v n i e h bo rtuirked 01 we J L he was just a hoi oechanus anyway

Many a t i m e ve vere surprised by the way Hr J o h n Sorenaon i g shy

nored or d i s o b e y e d Mr Fords orders and got away with i t He used to

say I f Mr Ford r e a l l y means i t h e l l t e l l m a g a i n f h e y had t h e i r

d i s a g r e e m e n t s o f t e a and aany a t i m e Mr F o r d I g n o r e d J o h n f o r weeks J o h n

a l w a y s k i d d e d a bout i t h u t -frac34frac34 know It w o r r i e d h i a One t i n e when J o h n

d i d n t see eye t o eye w i t h Bft f o r d and f a i l e d t o be c o n v i n c e d Mr F o r d

l e f t t h e department and returned w i t h a l a r g e browse squirrel n u t c r a c k e r

and put i t on J o h n s desk and d i d n t say a word T h i s eaae from t h e

Museum ami was q u i t e a c r a c k e r H i e n u t waa p l a c e d between t h e squirrels

jaws and p r e s s i n g down on t h e t a i l gave ample l e v e r a g e t o c r a c k the n u t

J o h n t a l k e d w i t h a Swedish a c c e n t and used t o s a y I tittle he tintcs Im a

hard nut to crack

One day B i l l M i l l e r b r o u g h t in a s h a f t removed f r o m an o l d

steam e n g i n e J o h n waft not t h e r e at t h e t i a e so I was t o l d what was wanted

T h i s shaft was a b o u t t h r e e and a half i n c h e s i n diasaster and at least f o u r

f e e t l o n g Mr F o r d wanted 1frac34frac34 aiaaeter iucrlaquoraquoased the f u l l length by addshy

i n g o n weldiiig mteria1 It oas a v e r y unreasonable request a n a t h e final

-133-

r e s u l t s were s u r e t o be u n s a t i s f a c t o r y I conveyed t b e message to John Sorenson on his return to the d e p a r t m e n t He say Mwhy---hes crazy You

c a n t do t h a t So I r e c e i v e d o r d e r s f r o m Mr S o r e n s o n t o cut a new piece o f s t e e l and aake a new one o f the d e s i r e d diameter and t h e tmma was deshy

l i v e r e d to Mr M i l l e r We d i d not know that Mr Ford had personally t o l d

t h e f a r m e r t h a t he c o u l d save t h e o l d s h a f t by welding viaea t h e farmer r e t u r n e d t o v i e w h i s e n g i n e he s a i d i t wasnt t h e same shaft and t h a t Mr F o r d bad g i v e n o r d e r s to w e l d t h e o l d one Mr M i l l e r c o n f e s s e d that we

had furnished a new shaft A few d a y s l a t e r I laquoas t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e

Eouge T h i s was i n January 1933 1 could never find o u t whether this s h a f t d e a l tad any b e a r i n g on t h e d e m o t i o n

The years froa 1920 on to 1927 were years i n w h i c h anyone h a v i n g

an i d e s f o r a n automatic transmission were r e c e i v e d w i t h open arms Ve

were continually b u i l d i n g v a r i o u s t y p e s d e s i g n e d by the v a r i o u s e n g i n e e r s

but when t h e t i m e came to change over to Model A there were none considered s u i t a b l e We u n d e r s t o o d Mr Sheldrick was instrumental i n having Mr F o r d

give hisokay to use the sliding gear shift on the Model A un t i l a suitshyable one was perfected Through the period of the Model A production the selective type sliding gear ms used and also for aany models thereafter It vas a t i c k l i s h s u b j e c t to a p p r o a c h Mr Ford regarding any ideas he had his Blind set on The change to sliding-gear transmission appeared to us quite an a c c o m p l i s h m e n t to anyone who could convince Mr F o r d to depart froa the Model T planetary type

-13b-

Juxy iiti 5s si faulty wi th tar Ford ao ase-d several lues

to jv-t ^ a Mr fard r- rdiaa subjects sas^ v ctltu cf beany f i r a ^ fixed

i n r fords decordried alad Ine oi these -at cblt craiulshaf ap bolts

on tbe Model T For those who do not resetter there were six bolts one-

half inch in disaster four of which were about six inches long and two

about four inches long When the tractor was being produced the caps on

the tractor crank aere held on with cap screws and the heads wired to preshy

vent accidental loosening lo reason could be seen why the same- could not

be done to the Model 1 to save a lot of deep hole d r i l l i n g as wall as

material f o r bolts Four of the bolts on the Model T had the nu ts up on

the outside of the block and nuts held i n place with cotter pins

Soaeoaa was prompting Jiray Smith about asking Mr Ford about

changing this u n t i l at last Jiaay aentioned the subject to him I can see

Jiiasy coming from this contact with Mr Ford and saying to us I told you

so Mr Ford said J i m as loag as I aw l i v i n g those bolts w i l l go through

but after Ia gone you can do as you wish

tjbea the electric starter became a r e a l i t y oa Ford cars the Beadix

idea was then considered the best method However being a CUM product

Ford was reluctant to pay the royalty for i t s use so may other ideas and

methods were attempted a i l proving inferior

Ed Huff and his young wife spending a happy Mew Years Eve at

Botsford Inn found that on their attempted return t r i p the starting device

would not work (according to what we heard) and Ed became so enraged at

-135-

this starters failure to function and after finding that with h i s snail

f r a i l stature the engine would not respond to his winding he dts tgured the cars appearance badly and earae hone by taxi Upon his ret^n to work a day or so later he was instrumental in having ford Motor adapt and i n s t a l l the product of a G M subsidiary regardless of the royalty payment

Ife Bd Huff taentioned above wns a former Pord employee and the

deelgner of the original Ford flywheel aampgneto but for years had aot been employed by Ford Motor Company Shortly before his retom to Ford Motor publicity had been given regarding his intention to sue- Pord Motor Company for 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 pertaining to tho flywheel mgneto patents Mr Ford sent

for Mr H iff and suor ltj after t i e i r c o n f e r e n c e M r staff was ag in on Ford Motor p a y r o L i - t T i d for itou bull o amgtu tr-laquon after iw- rained L B a c u i v i -

tiec to experiments on radio circuits After the failure of his Ford to start that ffcfe Yearhs Ivcniag

at Botsford inn and the decision made the next week to adapt tue proven Bendix starting device Sr l u f f did not conceal his pâsore of having

become quite a few hundred dollars richer by Investinf- in the proper seshy

curities Just prior to the announcement that Ford was to adopt the fiendix

starter Several of us also had the inforssation before the public had i t

but did not grasp the opportunity to benefit by It as he d i d

Mr Ford had an office i n the Engineering Lab which oas not used Much as aa office but more or less as a place of retreat It was

-136-

known by a l l thai one- certain door vas the customary aeftrs of departure Occasion Liy Aan w r Fords up rovagt or B bull^nature vas requirr-b persous could be seen ottering i n thai v i c i n i t y providing they saw bin titer or knew he was in there It was runored by soae that they could her hiis Mixing his eggnog in tiere Someone must have rientloned to Mr a-d that they knew he was in there because they could hear his hand-Uriven heater He decided he tust hove a silent beater so our uepartn it vas delegated to -1 e hbbdquo ltj

Ik vac fifred r i + r tnf ahi_ity of being aissunderotoob and his sketches furtheramptore conveyed is thoughts no farther Tie J O B -liothofl

of prontoor- vaa by t-rlat and error aad s the Job took sliape v coaid better see vtat he wanted or more often didnt want la eas fxen disshy

pleasing to a i l concerned but iêêrtlseiess necessary so our S i e r or

beater vraquoraquo aot coup he U-d on v-t- f i r s t try

Iventoai-ty en i t raquolaquo caaopietec seetaingly to his so isfaction

ho carried the uixer aoout forty feet placed i t on a v L_dovraquo S i 1 in oar departirant and told the vatelunaa on duty to leave i t toere fcectuse he would be bac for i t It reaoned there several years Lvery ae feared to aove i t for fear he would return for i t any time I f he did i t would be where fee l e f t i t

During the treaties thr- local newspaper showed amp pic are of b i i i i a s Fiusei ao ofi-tjîor oroanti Detroit seated on a spec 1bull chair on vhicJi aso nraquo iaojnu-u a tuba or sousaphone xhis special err r was nade

-137-

to ease the labors of the player by support tag the bora The a r t i c l e

gave f u l l credit for i t s invention and design to Mr Ford 1raquo therefore

have saved the clipping for these twenty-five to th i r t y years to remind

otyself of the t r i a l s and work done by ae to cake this idea become a

re a l i t y for which no credit was ever given

When the Model A ms put on the market I was driving an old

Hudson car but also had an old Ford 1 drove the Hudson to work and laid

garage privileges and parking when the Model f sales slipped the Service

Department started checking as to why we werent driving ford cars One

of our department sen answered the questionnaire by saying that he didnt

own a car but his wife a Board of Education employee owned and drove a

Chevrolet In screening these questionnaires his ms sidetracked for

further investigation The head of the Service Department case in aad

in his talks got the answer taa his wife preferred the Chevrolet because

of better riding qualities caused by the Longitudinal rear springs Service

evidently had tbe authority to act as they did for they iWKdiately i n s t i shy

tuted severance procedure and the aan was dismissed froa the Coapany at once

I then the foreman in charge was not in any way consulted prior to this

dismissal

Also during that period one day after work I had gone to the

garage for ay Hudson but could aot find i t I had probably worked twenty

minutes after quitting time and few cars were l e f t Sometiaee in washing

our cars they were not returned to the usual stall so I looked elsewhere

-138-

but could not locate i t Eventually a friend of mine i n tiie- garage sneaked the information to ae that a l l cars not Ford products had been driven to Michigan Avenue I vent there and sure enough there was ay car keys and a l l parked on Michigan Avenue for anyone to drive amy The next day 1 parked on Brady Street south of Michigan and locked my car That evening on jay return there was a Ford Servieejaan there to t e l l ae that I could not park there although ao signs -were there to that effect 1 started shopping around for a Model A but no dealer wanted an old Hudson 1 appealed to Ford o f f i c i a l s u n t i l eventually I waa referred to Charles Sorensen for his help i n getting m a new Model A Although he and I had no troubles with each other I nevertheless feared to be obligated to hiss Eventually after trying to get a Model A I found a dealer who would take my Hudson as turn-la on aa Issex so I decided on an Issex

About a week after delivery I was driving south on Oakwood and was almost at the Village entrance when a car drove alongside of ae and adjusted his speed to mine My wife turned her head and seeing the occushypant looking ut us said Theres soaeone ho knows you Witt gtut lookshying and thinking i t was a fellow employee I gave a s i l l y hand salute and a nod and sailed To sy regret i t happened to be Mr jPefcer Martin vice-president of the Ford Motor Company Three days later I was apshyproached by another high o f f i c i a l of the Ford Motor Company for an explanashytion as to why I was driving an Essex I explained that I had aade several

-139-

efforts to get a Model A tat without success He thea aroiaieed se a Model A within aWeek which offer I refused but later reconsidered and within a week I bad a Model A

The effect of SQT s i l l y salute and the humiliation caused Mr Martin inthe presence of Ms friends (the occupants i n his car) never wore off For years his nain object seeued to be to get something on me or find fault in jay department So determined was tt tbat wl hie walking In vith a group of Ford o f f i c i a l s he would leave the groip and cut through the Machine Shop trying to find a wrench on the way of a lathe or on the table of the a i l l l n g machine

Some years later a new engine having a a overhead camshaft driven by two sets of miter gears was being assembled i a the Byaa Departshyment I had heard that being this was Friday the 13th they wanted i t running that day so tbat later on their ad eould read o f a new developshyment of a lord product assembled tested and proven on Friday the 13th

The- o f f i c i a l s had just l e f t the engine which was being assembled and bad gone to lunch when discovery was made that the cylinder block had been tapped for a coarse thread and the aating studs had a fine thread we had aade a l l the parte but a mistake oa the print bad not been detected Bob Black came to ate with sweat on his brow not knowing what to do Seeing that the opposite end of the stud had a coarse thread I suggested turning the studs end for end and completing the assembly while new studs were being made Although this was not the general method of procedure I was

-iko-

willing to help even if the studs were loose in the block

In those days we worked nicely as a teareg Oar wain objective

this day waa to complete the test as wanted that day Ve were a compact little unit having aa open Job number to which to charge experimental work and with the steel stock nearby a l l red tape was cut to a minimum

The engine preliminary test did not aeet expectations and someshyhow Mr Martin got wind of my offer to help and ay orders to replace the

studs I was called on the carpet at the south end of the building It seemed ailthe officials were there as ms M r Ford Mr Martin did the

talking and I was thoroughly reprimanded for my efforts to help without

official sanction froa higher o f f i c i a l s To this day I believe that

they knew the studs wouldnt fit and the talk of having to sake the engine run that day teas for the lowering of the boos oa the designer who

would have been wholly at fault when discovery was aade that the studs did not fit Without my help it would have held up the test until new studs were aade and assembled the next day

Occasionally we had help assigned to us without laving been

requested and occasionally tale help ltad very definite faults 1 tolershy

ated one fellow for a long tiae and used to wonder why certain fellows

from the office seeded to have hie interest at heart After he left on his own accord I was informed that he was on probation from one of

Detroits courts and put i n the custody of Mr Liebold l a the hopes of

rehabilitation I unknowingly had this problem child--maybe with a

~ l k l -

criminal background o r intent

1933 to 1 frac34 frac34

In January 1933 I was t r a n s f e r r e d to tbe Rouge plant and

v a s u n a b l e to hvo anyone t e l i ire t h e reason My salary had bclt i about

$50 a moat and at the Rouge i t was 6 frac34 cento an h o u r eight JUTS a

d a y four d a y s a eek t o t a l i n g $20 for t h e week About t h r e e aoaths

a f t e r I went there I us l a i d off e n t i r e l y a s were aaay others At

that tiioe -anyone who was a valte earner a n d had a family v a s for -tnat-e to

h a v e eapioyiaeflt and those ifto d idnt h a v e had an experience no doubt

often talked about since

My investments bad to he d r o p p e d one by one aol the death o f my

mother i n May of that year added to ay sorrows After aoout th-ee Months

of unefflployaeat Pord p o l i t i c s put ae back to vork T h e am vhc had been

laid off at tit Rouge ere replaced by others having some pull soraehow

and raany of those u n ere inferior mechanics One fellow vho seemed to

have siore than norm aiatoition S M trying hard to make a success o f his

new 3copyb but failed terribly I helped hicopy sfeerever I c o u l d and he later

confessed to m that he had b e e s a baker b y trade and appreciated ay help

very much

fhe- mchines at the louge vere auch in need o f r e p a i r and i n my

opinion should have been repaired while good aechanics -were available but

who was I to know what the plans and situation of the ford Motor Company

were My fellow e m p l o y e e s vere not of the type I had b e e n accustoaed to

working with It because necessary to carry your tools with you most of the time and then soae disappeared I wore a good pair of rubbers to work oa a wet day and the first night had to settle for a worn-oat pair Soae fellows ran a chain through the sleeves of their coats and locked thea to the racks or hangers so as to be sure to have one to go home with Your street clothes were taken by others who worked in thea and sestettoes returned them filthy dirty the same day or night

One morning I vas In the superintendent s office getting ay dally pep talk when an old ragged colored man walked by This was almost thirty minutes after shift change Hie superintendent saw hits aad reshyquested hia clerk to bring his in which he did Se was not given a chance to explain hi reasons for walking so slowly until after the superintendent had given him a bawling out Shea he remarked Veil mister the day man didnt cam in so I carried oa with production until the foreman found a man to take ay place

The superintendents only answer to tbat was well dont walk by ay office

I met many of the sen who fifteen years before had worked with me at the fraetor plant and soae of them now were foremen and superintend-ents Bie word spread as to my Identity and insofar as having worked so closely with Henry Ford ray motive In being there among them were quesshytioned After several months of this low pay I requested transfer to proshyduction realising the wage rate would be higher I bad stopped to discuss

-13-

the t r a n s f e r with Mr Bric k e r vith whocopy I had worked i n Dearborn before

he was a foremn but now was a high o f f i c i a l I was c a l l e d i n t o the superintendent bull s o f f i c e the next acopyrning

and on ray entry the conversation stopped at once 1 was introduced to

about a half-dozen s h i f t and department foremen and then the superinshytendent assigned mo t o a department where the foresaan had been promoted t o aiglit superintendent I vas again introduced to about fifteen or twenty o f h i s a s s i s t a n t s aad put in charge of hp ssea fbe department had no desk -The product had no available prints The phone WHS so noisy I couldnt receive or understand orders The building vas l i k e n oven

and furthermore within two weeks the s t a f f had been Increased to 510 bull I

sure was running I n circles and soon definitely eaae t o the conclusion I was not the type f o r Ford production My voice would not carry 100 f e e t and furthermore laquoy vocabulary of swear words m s very M a l t e d c o n s i s t i n g

mostly of darn i t and sometimes damn i t

I t was decided by then that I was to f i l l an opening i n aachine

r e p a i r The foreman whom I replaced and who was Bade s h i f t superintendent

was climbing to the top o f the Ford production ladder However lie soon was accused of being an a r s o n i s t and (sorry to say) has been put out of c i r c u shy

l a t i o n

llaile a t the Bouge I saw many of the s a a l l injustices which in

t i n e contributed t o the reasons f o r having a union In one department I was working i n one day the foreman case along dropping two t i c k e t s on each

-HA-

beach aai imebine ana seconds later a f l b i l l bad replaced the tickets I read the tickets and was not interested so let thea l i e The a n next to ae saw the situation and told soae others In a few admites a fellow

came along and told me I was expected to do as the others did walch did

not agree with say way of thinking Soon the foreman came along picking up the currency bhea he got to ay bench he looked at the tickete and said Veil X told uagt I diut-u dance bat Le let the tickets here aad

said Well take them with my ceeplhaents The night of the dance I

took ay wife along and for about five minutes said Hello to some of ay fellow workers present (many of them were aot) aad departed

I made numerous requests to be returned to the Engineering lab but did not succeed until two years had gone by ijgt3 to ijpk

bullOn my return to learborn i n 1935 I found the atmosphere i n the Engineering lab lad clanged considerably She depression years seemed to have taken from thea the self confidence they previously had At Bth$ am daliy we had spiritual devotions at Which time we assembled at the south

end of the building for fifteen minutes while the students of Edison Instishy

tute sang hymn and offered prayers which were relayed to us by radio After several months these assemblies were discontinued In turn we shut

off our machines and sat about throughout the fif t e e n minutes in silence i n

our own departments

i M r Iterd attended the chapel services regularly and on coming

15-

into tbe shop after one of these services I was working i n his path He approached me with extended hand and after casual greeting inquired as to what I had seen at the Rouge I answered that I was glad he asked that question bull 1 had in ay pocket a l i s t of the things that I considered worthy of improvement and proceeded to reach i n ray pocket for the l i s t He departed abruptly with both hands up i a the a i r above Ms head having decided after a l l that he didnt want to know as he no doubt knew plenty

After the Village bad several buildings under construction Mr Ford f e l t i t advisable to have some building in which he could display some of the mementos pertaining to the l i f e of Abraham Lincoln He thereshyfore instructed his scouts to go to the v i c i n i t y of Lincolns youth where they located the old Logan County Courthouse i n which Abraham Lincoln i n his youth practiced law fbe old building was very much weather-worn and had been converted into l i v i n g quarters At that time i t ms occupied by the Catkins family consisting of Mr and Mrs Watkitis then close to seventy and their unmarried son about forty-five to f i f t y years old

they refused to s e l l for some time claiming tbat this was their home and did not feel like leaving the building nor the town but after they had been promised a home i n Dearborn In which to l i v e and also employshyment for father and son did they agree to the giving up of the building

I as Machine Shop foreman vas told to find etaployment for amp man and his son and to place then as t saw f i t i n about two weeks from then When they arrived (I had expected younger people) I found they vlaquore without

- i k 6 -

shop experience so found employment for then in the Pattern and Machine Shop as cleanup aen However this transplanting of older folks hid not

turn out very successful although they had easy work good pay -nd a modern comfortable homo to live i n

While so employed at the Engineering lab the building was dismantled sufficiently to allow i t to be moved to Dearborn and placed in Greenfield t i l l a g e where It was reassembled and repaired where necesshysary Since then i t has housed the various former belongings of Abraham Lincoln Searby also are several slave huts as used by slaves during Lincolns l i f e

The Catkins family however could not adjust themselves to this new environment and soon were so homesick and dissatisfied that they l e f t Dearborn and returned to their old home town i n I l l i n o i s and of eourse we havent heard from then since

Our two children attended the Greenfield Tillage schools and as recitations were one of the means to teach children not to be self conscious the children ware encouraged along that line Occasionally when recitations by our children were considered worthy of mention Mr Ford made i t his point to coae i n and compliment me on their rendition Our children have many mementos of the years at the Tillage schools and w i l l carry v i t h thea through l i f e the teachings i n so wany subjects over and above the teachings in regular public school systems

Sosse twenty years ago our son vas having some trouble i n manual

training class inserting an oblong hole into the top of a pine footshys t o o l Mr Ford solved the problea f o r him by doing i t himself while my

son looked on Occasionally as I look at i t 1 sees to f e e l that there was room for improvement i n the workmanship of such high-priced labor as perfanaed by Mr Ford

Mr Ford spent much of his time supervising tiie- restoration of

b u i l d i n g s and antique equipment At the time the fort Myers Florida machine shop of Thoms Edisons vas being put in readiness for operation he was on Jiand when the steam was turned oa to operate the old engine The steam line at the engine was vertical and about chest-high at tbe main or throttle valve and between the throttle valve and steam chest there vas mounted an old design but s t i l l good lubricator This i s a device whereby heavy o i l can be injected into the steam line and enters the c y l i n d e r with the sterna Evidently during the installation a check valve had been omitted between the lubricator aad steam li n e and as tbe bowl of the lubricator was open on top the moment the throttle valve was opened tbe steam entered the lubricator from the bottom and shot the heavy o i l out of the top Mr Ford uas so Interested i n being present for the i n i t i a l tryout that he was practically on top of the engine and when the heavy o i l h i t the room he was on hand to receive most of i t had Mr Ford not been the victim this warranted a good laugh However insofar as he looked l i k e a grease monkey his gray suit a mess and his face f u l l of o i l our reactions were mixed I reaeaher Mr Karl Arndt pulling out his

-18-

handkerchief ana trying to get the heavy o i l off of Mr foria face One day a fellow eaae to me in a hirry and askeo If I ad a

pair of tweezers I handed hia one viiich was crudely moe by 1frac34 during ny apprenticeship forty years before by using holed ends of a lack saw blade riveted together I s t i l l feel these were the best tweezers I have ever owned and although not taking any prises for appearance they were very efficient in removing s l i v e r When they were returned to me the fellow remarked that Mr Ford (for whom he had gotten the tweezers) had asked who owned these tweezers Be ao doubt did not admire their appearance

When Mr Ford became seventy-five years of age the townsshypeople arranged a festival i a bis honor It laquo s held at Ford Field where a natural amphitheater serves eo well on these occasions unite an area of folding chairs were arranged on f l a t s and reserved for friends of Mr and Mrs Ford who occupied a portion of the front row 1 believe that possibly one hundred of their friends and relatives were i n this area Beside us s i t t i n g on the grassy h i l l s i d e was Mr and Mrs William Ford brother of Henry Through tbe years their friendship had been spotty which was no secret to old-timers i a Bcarborn

The pageant relived several episodes i n Mr Fords l i f e mdash o n e being tSat at an early age hie mecranical a b i l i t y was recognized by xocal faraers During this episode a traction engine vus driven before the audience with the connecting rod bearing -oose enough to cause quite a

-lfcgt

thump The farmer seemed quite disturbed by this thump and confessed

ignorance of a setl-jod to repair sane Another fanner suggested they send over and get Mr William fords son Henry because he could f i x i t Ke emphasised the fact to ho sure that i t was Henry he broaght back inferring that tae other sons John and Willlam were net capable of rendering assistance Mr William Ford sit t i n g beside us lauyhed heartily at this remark when 1raquo r e a l i t y he had aany reasons to feel

hurt One was that he ms not among lenrys friends down on the more comfortable chairs ratacr than s i t t i n g on the grassy h i l l s i d e

bullTae curved spokes i n flywheels and pulleys received their share of arguments every year or so It i s a well known fact that the original purpose of curved spokes was to counteract the effect of

shrinkage vic caused strain on the straight spokes 3fony flywheels

aade with straight spokes soon had one spoke cracked leaving a gap between (evidence of the strain on a straight spoke) In the curved spoke design

the shrinkage or shortening of spokes during cooling after casting Just palled the ring along the arc of the casting slightly However Mr Ford had a firm opinion as to the direction of rotation and i f you didnt- agree with him on this subject you were Just as wrong as wrong could be

While Edsels children were i n the process of growing up we made a balf-siae threshing outfit for thea completemdashengine thresher

and water wagon This i n turn later was on exhibition at the State Fair

with boys from the Village schools operating the equipment lite engine

-150-

plate ted the same HIBIIJO tbasae being letters from the names of the three children William Fort the fourth child i n the Edsel Ford family either was at that time not born or too young to get his name on tiie name-plate

Benry sad Benson were at the Engineering Lab often with either Mr Ford or Mr Fords chauffeur as chaperon or a better word oould be keeper fhey were mischievous youngsters alwayB dressed i n clothes more suitable to England than the United Statereg Bevertheless this did not prevent them froa running and raiding on the waxed floors nor froa punching out the employees tine cards vraquoen the opportunity presented i t s e l f

Edsel was a quiet somevhat -11 individual saving ao abundance of common sense and reason not loud i n his talk and having a face closer to a smile than to seriousness It i s a well known fact thampt domination by his father caused him worries Friction between Charles Sorensen and himself wag aleo evident Almost every idea he proposed was not considered worthy of acceptance The attitude alwayB seemed to be i n Henrys mind that someone put him up to i t In the early days of the Ford Motor Company civ i c pride and s p i r i t i a Dearborn was high and occasionally O K holidays thcopy customary parade vas worth seeing Benry Fords f i r s t car driven by Edsel Ford was In one of these parades Bowever the car failed and pounddsel was stranded on Garrison or Morley with i t for some time Shortly after I was asked to replace a gear on i t which I did and whea completed the broken gear was thrown i a the scrap by me A day later the old gear was

-151-

asked for and fortunately I was able to find i t

Daring Mr F o r d s aceuaelation o f bis aany faro each became

another abb piece In its neighborhood as houses buildings and fences

were repaired and repainted Some of the houses had a complete rejuvenashy

tion requiring considerable labor Our department ms available at a l l

times for break-down repair Jobs and quite often was called upon to do

unusual jobs

On one occasion a hydraulic ram was brought in for repair with

the request that tbe same tee available for use the next day insofar as i t

was needed badly For explanation I Bight say these rams operate autoshy

matically or bydraullcally and w i l l while placed in awater supply push

or force a portion of the flow above its source They are very simple

but s t i l l many people have not seen thea Shortly afterward Mr Ford

spied his r a a and asked where it was from After being told gtlt requested

tnat I hide i t and t e l l the caller for i t that I didnt know wt =gtre i t had

disappeared to The next day I did aa I was told The next day they

again appeared quite early locking for the ram 1 realised this was no

way to treat anyone and confessed to them the truth which put them in a

position t c solve their water supply problem some other way ahey probably

did as they never returned for i t This ram was never repaired nor ever

put to use during the years to follow The last I sat of i t i t was in the

basement covered with dust

On October 6 1938 as the officials were strolling up the main

-152-

aisle a f t e r hairing had t h e i r noon s e a l we noticed among the group s e v e r a l

exceptionally t a l l s e n They had j u s t gone f i f t y f e e t beyond our d e p a r t shy

ment when some breaking up o f the group was In o r d e r The q u e s t i o n must

have been asked r e g a r d i n g their h e i g h t s and soon Mr Sbeldrick waa i n our

department asking f o r a square and r u l e While ae was going f o r a square

Mr Ford picked up a magazine and u s i n g i t i n p l a c e o f a square head each

i n t u r n put t h e i r racks t o a concrete p i l l a r and had t h e i r heights recorded

t h e r e o n The remark l a d e v i d e n t l y been made that we had a midgt bdquo nearby

so someone was delegated t o get Barry Hetsler l e was a b r o t h e r o f M r s

C J Smith and although his body seemed o f normal else h i s l e g s and arms

were s t u n t e d fie a l s o was p laced with M s back t o the post and h i s

height marked Mr Ford kne of Harry h e t s l e r i n s o f a r gte f o r y ors he had

played the p a r t o f Santa Claus a t the Vi llage s c h o o l s The h e i g h t s were

a s f o l l o w s s t a r t i n g with the t a l l e s t J

Mr E C r a i g Mr H rord 5 feet Ssect Ische Mr Id sea Ford) ____ Mr MeCarroll ) M r P Martin Mr L Sheidrlck Harry Hetsier k feet inches

4 1 1 of this was done on the spur o f the moment and no one had any

i d e a t h a t the heights would be p r e s e r v e d However a coat o f v a r n i s h was

Mr Franklin Mr Stackpoie Mr S Campbell Mr Charles Sorensen Mr V i b e l

6 feet T laches

6 f e e t 1 inch 6 f e e t

-153-

put oa the post and when l a s t I passed through the Harks were s t i l l on

the post i n t i c Kngineering lah

About a year before tbe United States entered vorld fer II ve

were working isore at repairing antique engines and restoring various

mechanical devices (which are now displayed at tbe Greenfield ViOage

Museum) than at experimental ork i n the automotive l i n e The eaperi-

nentai work was being done at the Rouge for several reasons oat being

they worked three s h i f t s at the Rouge and i c that way could deliver a

finished product to the Bearbosro Engineering Lab quicker than we could

Furthermore 14 Ford f e l t that he could keep i s closer touch with h i s

various interests i f work were being done at the Engineering lab and I

believe he realised that a f t e r his death his ideas of what should and

what shouldnt be i n the Museus would be ignored Therefore he was making

an e f f o r t to get as much done as possible fie also- r e a l i z e d tbat the

United States would l a i n the war eventually and thea the shops would a l l

be at war work

Several uf our good -jeclmnlcs had already l e f t to go lo shops

paying more aad working a lot of overtime so we also were put ea overtime

and Saturday Work in order to keep the employee8 Furthermore a request

was rade to Tiave ten new employees furnished us by the Rouge plant As i s

human nature no foreman wishes to lose his capable and trustee valuable

employees so soxe of the new aen did not apply themselves as possibly they

eould have- however ae continued to lose good aen aad replace taera with

others aot too v e i l adapted to our variety of work Ve continued to do as much work for Mr Pord as he requested hut- soon our department also was asked to help on war work Some of our heavier machines were tooled to the fabricating of tank gun turret work and many otherreg (especially engine lathes and d r i l l presses) were used to machine Dural gear blanks for Sperry Directional Finders These blanks were in turn delivered to the lighland Park plant where teeth were cut on thereg and assembly made there

A i l this war work caused us a lot of confusion insofar as special tools had to he mademdashspecial reamers and plug gages furthershymore the expansion and contraction caused by changes i n temperature in our department caused us more troubles as these parts were taken to Highshyland Bark and there checked in a temperature controlled room with preshy

cision equipment such as we did not have However the years seemed to pass so quickly we soon were again at a greater variety of work

I n the forties the Ford Motor Company started making twist d r i l l s out of flat stock and twisting same to desired spiral and then grinding

the d r i l l s to the desired diameter When ordering d r i l l s these d r i l l s were furnished us aad were very unsatisfactory for these reasons The webs of t i e d r i l l were not central thereby one flute would be wider than the opposite - one Shanks were not ground true with the d r i l l and shanks

were hard and would sli p i n the chuckreg The fellows complained plenty and 1 did not blame them as 1 too saw the defects but i n reordering the same

-155-

type d r i l l was furnished Our tmn were refusing to use thea and so I started ordering the d r i l l s with this notation lot the twisted Ford d r i l l s as theyare no good Several orders went through that way then oae day 1 was called aside and told to refrain from my specific ordering I was told that I probably did not know who the father of this d r i l l idea was and 1 didnt However ao doubt others expressed their opinions of them as no aore were sent to us

When Camp Legion was started it was for the purpose of rehabilishytation of war veterans and Mr Ford personally cade aany trips over there One of the fellowcopy there found family discord on his return from war to add to his other worries aad obtained the custody of his son who was about three or four years old He had hireg there at camp with the group of men- On one of his trips to the caap Mr Ford saw this lad trying to play horseshoes using a heavy standard quoit for that purpose Be sensed bia d i f f i c u l t y and had a set of cast iron shoes made for hia which were similar to the larger ones and we did a l i t t l e work on these shoes One defective one vas discarded which I have among my souvenirs now

I Slight also say that insofar ae philately was one of my hobbles I have a collection of envelopes addressed to Mr Ford which 1 gleaned from vastepaper scrap) which soae day could make a very unusual display I also have the unused World War II gas ration stamp left-overs issued to Josephine Benson and Henry Ford Junior procured l a the ease manner

-156-

I thought for awhile 1 would like a written pass from Mr Ford giving ae aeeess to Ford plants but he never made the offer always t e l l i n g me to see Mr Bricker or Mr Martia etc

When the bright Cycle Shop was added to the Village group a remark was made by the then l i v i n g Wright brother Orville that their f i r s t mechanic was s t i l l alive and l i v i n g i n California and could be a great help - i n the restoration of the exhibit l i e name was Charles E Taylor and in 1 9 3 he was located and brought to Dearborn to locate and restore the machinery used i n making the f i r s t Wright plane With Mr Taylors help they were able to locate most of the original machinery and have same brought to Dearborn and repaired to look and operate l i k e new Although considerable information i s available regarding Mr Taylor nevertheless getting this information from him i a person had i t s rewards

He told me he started working for the Wrights i n 1901 at Dayton Ohio and was a Jack-of-ail-trades doing not only the machine work but making a miniature wind tunnel as well as most parts for the plane He said he had previously been promised a ride i n a plane and i s September 1908 i t almost became a real i t y Orville was to f l y the plane with Mr Taylor ae a passenger to demonstrate to a group of Army personnel the flying qualities of the Wight plane Just before the t r i a l f l i g h t was held at Fort Myer Virginia a request was aade that insofar as this demonshystration was for Army observance would i t not seem more appropriate to take an Army officer as the passenger- The request seemed reasonable and

-157-

C h a r l e s faylor s u r r e n d e r e d his space ia the plane to Lieutenant fhoaas I Seifridge For t h a t reaaon Charles faylor lived t o t e l l of the crash which killed Lieutenant Seifridge and seriously injured Orville bright

the pilot On coming to Dearborn M r T a y l o r brought with MB M S boxes of

original machinists tools used by him years ago and which are now a part of the bright Exhibit Ife told me t h a t his a g r e e m e n t of employment was t h a t i t could be t e r m i n a t e d by e i t h e r p a r t y but hia return fare to California was assured Although he was seventy years old ia igko we

were c l o s e friends I r e a l i s e d his costing to Dearborn w i t h o u t friends at the age of s e v e n t y could not be too p l e a s a n t so spent many e v e n i n g s

and S a t u r d a y s with hia as well as having Mm in for seals o c c a s i o n a l l y

He was a -widower but had a daughter living in California and a son living in Mexico In his trunk h e had the f i r s t American flag to have been up in an airplane and tool great pride in showing a e the mementos of his l i f e he had eft Since his departraquore from D e a r b o r n e i t h e r in l a t e 19frac34

or early kP we had corresponded regularly twice a year - - a t Christmas and on May fth bis Urtft date He was e i g h t y - s e v e n in May 1 bullgt and

died during the winter of 19$6 During his period at D e a r b o r n Mr Ford and he had many talks

together and Ms h e a r t was broken when he was given his request to leave together with his return ticket to California He r e g a i n e d around Dearborn t h r e e f a l l d a y s hoping to be able to say g o o d - b y to Mr Ford Mr Ford

-156-

i n the Mantiuae was not around again until after Charles Taylors deparshyture

While the war waa on we who saw Mr Ford almost daily for twenty-five years or sore eould see the change coming over hia He seemed to he getting thinner and sore stooped and his eyes seemed to sink deeper weekly Ee no longer came In daily and when he did eoste he seeaed to act confused It was also evident that someone else was giving orders as changes were being made so contrary to the accustomed pattern we had

learned to live with Our department which for twenty years had been i n the Engineering lab was aoved to the Annex Building and a large crew of aen was constantly moving departments froa place to place

I was placed on the afternoon shift and no longer displayed the enthusiasm for ay work I had tad for years In fact i t seemed when the union soved i n that ambition enthusiasm i n your work self expression loyalty to the Coapany pride in your dally accasplishoiente e t c aoved out Of course t h i s was not the aim of the union but aore or less the re-suit

As I look back to the years when one could buy a good car cheap i t was evident that jaanual labor often was strained to accomplish the proshyduction schedule 1 aa referring now to production as we at xperinental almost constantly had work the year round but eould sympathize with those who at tae end of t) c-ir s h i f t traquoere pretty well worked out Insofar as 1

lived in Highland Park and Detroit for twelve years 1 trade many contacts

-159-

with production workers and more than once had them sleep on my shoulder while ridlag the streetcars Also the threat of the annual layoff and the uncertainty of a layoff at aay tiae preyed heavily oa those subject to taking l i f e seriously

1 honestly believe the success of the Pord Motor Company was due to the effort of each of the old group of Ford employees and more recognishytion should have been given to them years ago I also believe t h e method used years ago to a great extent kept down the coat of the product as annualshyl y at model change-over or inventory tiae or slack season tiae everyone as a rule (except foremen) was l a i d off Many times this would he for an indefinite period and those called back to work were usually the ones capable and willing to do a good days work far better than the average daily wage earner The fact also that isem had no classification status allowed muagement to shift employees at will to f i l l in where iabor was needed and this helped greatly to keep down the cost of the product

In the various books written about the l i f e of Mr l o r d some of thea have mentioned a Mrs Holmes a midwife who officiated at the birth of Mr HenryFord Tbe grandson of t h i s Mrs Holmes now also close to eighty lives wear Botsford Inn at Bedford As a boy he was raised on Chase Bead between Warren and Ford load and knew Henry well For some fifteen years I have seen George very very often and m the friendship between he and Henry was steadfast u n t i l Fords death George delights i n telling of the old days

-l6o-

George played the v i o l i n at dances before the jaarriampge of Henry

and s t i l l likes nothing better than to be asked to play the old tunes for

you George used to say that the father of Henry Pord would not allow

Henry the use of the buggy horses so Henry quite often had a heavy workshy

horse hitched up to his buggy George says that i n 191frac34- when Ford was

buying land right and l e f t around Dearborn he was working in their f i e l d

the farthest corner away frora the house when a man approached i n a ear

and asked George who owned the farm He told him they did and wanted

$80000 for i t This was $10000 more than they had asked anyone else

The fellow drove on slowly viewing the fans so George ran to the f i r s t

house and called his home by phone He told his parents he had just

sold the farm for 80000 When the stranger arrived the elder Holmes

quoted the same price and the farm was sold George Hclraes lived with

and liked horses and for years was a driver of one of the stage coaches

in the Village later on when Village activity was curtailed during

World War II he settled for a janitor job i n the Engineering Lab

Henry Ford would coiae i n and talk to George whenever he could

find him It i s common knowledge that William Ford Henry Fords father

on his deathbed expressed bis doubts that Henry Ford had i t i n him to be

a success in l i f e although he didnt doubt that John and Will could make

a l i v i n g

After Henry Ford was showing definite signs of f a i l i n g fast he

met George Holmes at the entrance to the F i r s t Aid room in the Engineering

- 1 6 1 -

Lab Henry Ford bad trouble finding bis m y around as so many desks and

bullpartitions as well as male and female employees bad been added He

asked George Vbo are these men

George said They are draftsmen and engineers

Then Mr Ford asked Who are the women

George r e p l i e d They are the secretaries to the englreers and

draftsmen

Henrys eyes were looking f a r i n the distance when he re p l i e d

George Id give a l l I have to have my father see ae now George knew

the exact thoughts in Henrys mind then

In writing my memoirs it has been more or less a gratification

of a secret desire I have harbored f o r raquony years i n which I had hoped to

leave to my children and t h e i r children through these words a aore true

picture of rayself than appeared outwardly ir life I am fully aware that

many Incidents occur i n ones life-lt raquony amusing some tragicmdashand soae

of these I f e e l worthy of mentioning However the reader may consider

otherwise

I was born sc close to the cusp of the iodise tbat the science

of astrology has teen baffled to fi n d a sign under which I could be placed

so I have struggled through l i f e very unpredictable l a character pattern

Tbe conventional to me has been boring and sty reactions to same have aany

times caused embarrassment to others as well as to myself

I have inherited or maybe more t r u l y said acquired aatny f a u l t s

-162-

which in ay lifetime nave caused others aaay pains and troubles but

will confess I also was aot imune froa reactions of same early

observations revealed to rue that there were those who have and those who

have not Insofar as 1 spent aaay years in the have not category I

have sacrificed aaay hours cf pleasure to improve myself aad apply

frugality to ay my of liviog As I count my blessingsmdashay wife ay

children ay grandchildren and my home--I feel l i f e has not beea in

vain

-163 -

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lt4l~











































wantbull












were not
































































19QS















-48-

































-50-























- 5 1 -
























-52-

























glad eye




















1911




















f a b r i c top
























-5B~















pair







-59-









facturing

Ml

















Detroit



-61-














t i m e u s e







meantime





















found employment












-65~






automotive use



-66-










car






being

- 6 7 -









~6y-



















-TO-





-71-






72-


















-73-









an hour














bite

-k-













-T5-



















was appreciated





-76-




















77-

I

at 985 feet down























-78-






7 9 -

salt or coloring


Detroit















-So-









by chance















-81-



-82-










83-







-81-
























-85-










- 8 6 -





















mm day

























-88-
























-89-


i


1916 to 19^

































-91-




-92-





-93-













t a l k prices











bdquo9
























-95-















fired on him




best I not continue
















-9J-





98-








~))-
























- 1 0 0 -


t o r s






















-101-





















anyway



raquo102-
























-103-











c a r b u r e t o r

-10frac34-










t h i s document



































for t h e generator













































-110-
























-111-
























-112-
















-113-














- I l k






to Beary Ford


































h a ha ha







-116-





aucb











-117-






-llo-
































-120-
























-121-














notables







122-
























-123-


























aent he f e l t















-127-




the hole 001 small














-128-



















gone i t s way





-129-










the old country














raquo130-








-131-








-132raquo


















hard nut to crack






-133-












-13b-
























-135-













-136-









-137-



















dismissal





-138-



-139-





-iko-
















~ l k l -



















very much









-13-











l a t i o n



-HA-











our own departments


15-





- i k 6 -











-18-





-lfcgt











-150-




-151-







unusual jobs

















-152-



















6 feet T laches


-153-
















be at war work














-155-




-156-




-157-










-156-







-159-




-l6o-





















a l i v i n g



- 1 6 1 -







draftsmen










otherwise







-162-








vain

-163 -








seven days













employer





K i t c h e n e r )
































M s spare i i s e








Ii--












































q u i e t e d














auk t o - j - ^ b



































































































































in































































































































































1903 - I906





















































































































































-25-












-27-






i



water










-2gt













nothing serious






















s i g h t s












-31-







3 2 -
































-3^-



















I departed











I said Yes






















h i s neck













as antiques now




-3~










-38-

t h e m u s i c




































look l i k e











t o w o r k




















lt4l~











































wantbull












were not
































































19QS















-48-

































-50-























- 5 1 -
























-52-

























glad eye




















1911




















f a b r i c top
























-5B~















pair







-59-









facturing

Ml

















Detroit



-61-














t i m e u s e







meantime





















found employment












-65~






automotive use



-66-










car






being

- 6 7 -









~6y-



















-TO-





-71-






72-


















-73-









an hour














bite

-k-













-T5-



















was appreciated





-76-




















77-

I

at 985 feet down























-78-






7 9 -

salt or coloring


Detroit















-So-









by chance















-81-



-82-










83-







-81-
























-85-










- 8 6 -





















mm day

























-88-
























-89-


i


1916 to 19^

































-91-




-92-





-93-













t a l k prices











bdquo9
























-95-















fired on him




best I not continue
















-9J-





98-








~))-
























- 1 0 0 -


t o r s






















-101-





















anyway



raquo102-
























-103-











c a r b u r e t o r

-10frac34-










t h i s document



































for t h e generator













































-110-
























-111-
























-112-
















-113-














- I l k






to Beary Ford


































h a ha ha







-116-





aucb











-117-






-llo-
































-120-
























-121-














notables







122-
























-123-


























aent he f e l t















-127-




the hole 001 small














-128-



















gone i t s way





-129-










the old country














raquo130-








-131-








-132raquo


















hard nut to crack






-133-












-13b-
























-135-













-136-









-137-



















dismissal





-138-



-139-





-iko-
















~ l k l -



















very much









-13-











l a t i o n



-HA-











our own departments


15-





- i k 6 -











-18-





-lfcgt











-150-




-151-







unusual jobs

















-152-



















6 feet T laches


-153-
















be at war work














-155-




-156-




-157-










-156-







-159-




-l6o-





















a l i v i n g



- 1 6 1 -







draftsmen










otherwise







-162-








vain

-163 -




K i t c h e n e r )
































M s spare i i s e








Ii--












































q u i e t e d














auk t o - j - ^ b



































































































































in































































































































































1903 - I906





















































































































































-25-












-27-






i



water










-2gt













nothing serious






















s i g h t s












-31-







3 2 -
































-3^-



















I departed











I said Yes






















h i s neck













as antiques now




-3~










-38-

t h e m u s i c




































look l i k e











t o w o r k




















lt4l~











































wantbull












were not
































































19QS















-48-

































-50-























- 5 1 -
























-52-

























glad eye




















1911




















f a b r i c top
























-5B~















pair







-59-









facturing

Ml

















Detroit



-61-














t i m e u s e







meantime





















found employment












-65~






automotive use



-66-










car






being

- 6 7 -









~6y-



















-TO-





-71-






72-


















-73-









an hour














bite

-k-













-T5-



















was appreciated





-76-




















77-

I

at 985 feet down























-78-






7 9 -

salt or coloring


Detroit















-So-









by chance















-81-



-82-










83-







-81-
























-85-










- 8 6 -





















mm day

























-88-
























-89-


i


1916 to 19^

































-91-




-92-





-93-













t a l k prices











bdquo9
























-95-















fired on him




best I not continue
















-9J-





98-








~))-
























- 1 0 0 -


t o r s






















-101-





















anyway



raquo102-
























-103-











c a r b u r e t o r

-10frac34-










t h i s document



































for t h e generator













































-110-
























-111-
























-112-
















-113-














- I l k






to Beary Ford


































h a ha ha







-116-





aucb











-117-






-llo-
































-120-
























-121-














notables







122-
























-123-


























aent he f e l t















-127-




the hole 001 small














-128-



















gone i t s way





-129-










the old country














raquo130-








-131-








-132raquo


















hard nut to crack






-133-












-13b-
























-135-













-136-









-137-



















dismissal





-138-



-139-





-iko-
















~ l k l -



















very much









-13-











l a t i o n



-HA-











our own departments


15-





- i k 6 -











-18-





-lfcgt











-150-




-151-







unusual jobs

















-152-



















6 feet T laches


-153-
















be at war work














-155-




-156-




-157-










-156-







-159-




-l6o-





















a l i v i n g



- 1 6 1 -







draftsmen










otherwise







-162-








vain

-163 -













M s spare i i s e








Ii--












































q u i e t e d














auk t o - j - ^ b



































































































































in































































































































































1903 - I906





















































































































































-25-












-27-






i



water










-2gt













nothing serious






















s i g h t s












-31-







3 2 -
































-3^-



















I departed











I said Yes






















h i s neck













as antiques now




-3~










-38-

t h e m u s i c




































look l i k e











t o w o r k




















lt4l~











































wantbull












were not
































































19QS















-48-

































-50-























- 5 1 -
























-52-

























glad eye




















1911




















f a b r i c top
























-5B~















pair







-59-









facturing

Ml

















Detroit



-61-














t i m e u s e







meantime





















found employment












-65~






automotive use



-66-










car






being

- 6 7 -









~6y-



















-TO-





-71-






72-


















-73-









an hour














bite

-k-













-T5-



















was appreciated





-76-




















77-

I

at 985 feet down























-78-






7 9 -

salt or coloring


Detroit















-So-









by chance















-81-



-82-










83-







-81-
























-85-










- 8 6 -





















mm day

























-88-
























-89-


i


1916 to 19^

































-91-




-92-





-93-













t a l k prices











bdquo9
























-95-















fired on him




best I not continue
















-9J-





98-








~))-
























- 1 0 0 -


t o r s






















-101-





















anyway



raquo102-
























-103-











c a r b u r e t o r

-10frac34-










t h i s document



































for t h e generator













































-110-
























-111-
























-112-
















-113-














- I l k






to Beary Ford


































h a ha ha







-116-





aucb











-117-






-llo-
































-120-
























-121-














notables







122-
























-123-


























aent he f e l t















-127-




the hole 001 small














-128-



















gone i t s way





-129-










the old country














raquo130-








-131-








-132raquo


















hard nut to crack






-133-












-13b-
























-135-













-136-









-137-



















dismissal





-138-



-139-





-iko-
















~ l k l -



















very much









-13-











l a t i o n



-HA-











our own departments


15-





- i k 6 -











-18-





-lfcgt











-150-




-151-







unusual jobs

















-152-



















6 feet T laches


-153-
















be at war work














-155-




-156-




-157-










-156-







-159-




-l6o-





















a l i v i n g



- 1 6 1 -







draftsmen










otherwise







-162-








vain

-163 -












































q u i e t e d














auk t o - j - ^ b



































































































































in































































































































































1903 - I906





















































































































































-25-












-27-






i



water










-2gt













nothing serious






















s i g h t s












-31-







3 2 -
































-3^-



















I departed











I said Yes






















h i s neck













as antiques now




-3~










-38-

t h e m u s i c




































look l i k e











t o w o r k




















lt4l~











































wantbull












were not
































































19QS















-48-

































-50-























- 5 1 -
























-52-

























glad eye




















1911




















f a b r i c top
























-5B~















pair







-59-









facturing

Ml

















Detroit



-61-














t i m e u s e







meantime





















found employment












-65~






automotive use



-66-










car






being

- 6 7 -









~6y-



















-TO-





-71-






72-


















-73-









an hour














bite

-k-













-T5-



















was appreciated





-76-




















77-

I

at 985 feet down























-78-






7 9 -

salt or coloring


Detroit















-So-









by chance















-81-



-82-










83-







-81-
























-85-










- 8 6 -





















mm day

























-88-
























-89-


i


1916 to 19^

































-91-




-92-





-93-













t a l k prices











bdquo9
























-95-















fired on him




best I not continue
















-9J-





98-








~))-
























- 1 0 0 -


t o r s






















-101-





















anyway



raquo102-
























-103-











c a r b u r e t o r

-10frac34-










t h i s document



































for t h e generator













































-110-
























-111-
























-112-
















-113-














- I l k






to Beary Ford


































h a ha ha







-116-





aucb











-117-






-llo-
































-120-
























-121-














notables







122-
























-123-


























aent he f e l t















-127-




the hole 001 small














-128-



















gone i t s way





-129-










the old country














raquo130-








-131-








-132raquo


















hard nut to crack






-133-












-13b-
























-135-













-136-









-137-



















dismissal





-138-



-139-





-iko-
















~ l k l -



















very much









-13-











l a t i o n



-HA-











our own departments


15-





- i k 6 -











-18-





-lfcgt











-150-




-151-







unusual jobs

















-152-



















6 feet T laches


-153-
















be at war work














-155-




-156-




-157-










-156-







-159-




-l6o-





















a l i v i n g



- 1 6 1 -







draftsmen










otherwise







-162-








vain

-163 -

the reminiscences of mr. william mielke

Documents