Benson Polytechnic High School - BluePrint Yearbook (Portland, OR)

Page 27 text:

The POLY TECH 25 i PLU M RING D EPARTMENT p Plumbing Department Perhaps the most important thing with which the plumber should be fortified is a proper knowledge of soil and waste pipe ventilation. Other things connected with the plumbing fixtures of a house are secondary and mechanical. To know how to prevent sewer and waste pipe gases from entering the house through the plumbing fixtures under the varying con- ditions, requires a high degree of scien- tific knowledge. The conveying of fresh water to and through a house for do- mestic use is a comparatively simple mat- ter, but the conveying away from a house, or the disposal of the waste and unclean water without producing unhealthful con- ditions is quite another thing, and not by any means a simple matter. The reason for this is that as soon as water is made foul by any matter it begins to undergo chemical changes, as such matter decom- poses, and then something more than un- clean water must be conveyed from the premises. The plumbing department of the school has received much new equipment. The shop is in the two-story building, enabling the students to set up modern plumbing fixtures. The students of this department have connected up the air system throughout the school. They have done much repair work for the school. They are now mak- ing tests with water pressures. The senior students of the electrical de- partment and the architectial draftsmen are now spending one period a day in the plumbing shop estimating, putting in stove coils, soldering and wiping joints.

Page 26 text:

24 The POLY TECH GAS ENGINE AND AUTOMOBILE DEPARTMENT The Gas Engine and Automobile Department This shop course was inaugurated last term in the new school with Mr. Stair as the instructor. The equipment first con- sisted of a VVinton Six, Oldsmobile Eight and a two-cycle and a four-cycle engine, constructed by the machine shop students of the school. The students as a whole knew little about gas engines. so the work started from the very beginning. The work was divided between the shop work and the text book so as to familiarize themselves with the things that they were studying. They first took up valve tim- ing and carburetion, and a great deal of work was done timing the different mo- tors and adjusting the Carburetors. Later in the term the Winton engine and trans- mission was completely dissembled and reassembled. This consisted of quite a hit of work and a thorough knowledge of the engine parts. This term a ten h. p. semi-Diesel engine, four-cycle Buick en- gine, Stearns-Knight, Pope-Hartford, VVarren-Detroit and Ford automobiles were added to the equipment. These dif- ferent types of engines were studied and then thoroughly cleaned and put in per- fect running order. By studying aero- plane engines the students have kept in touch with the latest designs and engi- neering feats in gas engine construction. Efficiency in the shop has been put on a working basis both in the tool room and in the distribution of the work among the students. Frequent trips have been made to the different shops and the latest shop methods and practise studied. A great deal of review work is now being carried and a slight preparation for the study of the different ignition and electric sys- tems by the older students for next term.

Page 28 text:

26 The POLY TECH Slllil-QT METAL DEPARTMENT Sheet Metal Department Sheet metal work is a large and grow- ing industry. lt is intimately connected with the building trades and an increas- ing proportion of the cost of buildings is spent for cornice work, roofing, sky- lights, ornamental ceiling, Ventilating and heating. The rapid growth of the automobile industry requires the labor of thousands of men on bodies and radiators, the in- vention of sheet metal boats, and a large line of metal furniture is opening new fields every day. The introduction of autogenous welding and of electric welding has done much to make possible the use of sheet metal in new forms. ln its close co-relation with drawing it offers a practical application of the principle of intersections and develop- ments which are not easily connected with any other form of shop work. In the working out of sheet metal patterns every important principle used in the drawing of intersecting solids and the development of surfaces can be illus- trated and the student will at the same time be doing constructive work which will be tried out in the shops. There are many things that can be made of sheet copper and brass such as cigar trays, pin trays, spoons, fishing tackle and other useful articles. VVelding is another interesting sub- ject connected with sheet metal. There are several kinds of welding, oxy-acety- lene welding being the most important. Sheet metal work develops a faculty in the handling of a variety of hand tools. A larger number of light tools and machines are used than in any other branch of metal work. Since the ma- chines are hand operated, they are en- tirely under the control of the student and not in any sense automatic as some machines are. The mind of the student must be on his work and a correspond- ing mental development results from this concentration. The wages paid to the competent men in the sheet metal trades compare favor- ably with the wages paid in similar lines of work, The work is not confining, not unhealthful and is not dangerous.