Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades - Mechanic Yearbook (Media, PA)

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above mentioned work and the hardwood Hooring put down in Mr. Pratt's house enthused the fellows consider- ably and they took a much greater interest in their work. In the latter part of our junior year we encountered the more difficult repair jobs, while practice with the architects' level gave us experience in an entirely new and different line of work. For the 1915 commencement exercise we framed a hip and valley roof. All the lengths and cuts of the hip, common and jack rafters were obtained with the steel square. Building cornices, shingling and putting on gutter poles were also encountered in building this exercise. Q The early part of our Senior year marked the beginning of one of the most important periods of our stay at VVilliamson. This period may be so classed because of the large amount of practical work we did. Mill work and con- struction work were both done on a large scale. The mill work consisted chiefly of making doors, door jambs, sash, window-frames, moldings, trim, etc. This work also gave us a great deal of practice in setting up and taking down the different molding machines. Putting on hardware introduced to us a somewhat new line of work. Although the fellows had done very little of this work previously they held up their end fairly well by consulting the notes which had been given us in our shop talks. In the last half of our Senior year, prior to entering the commercial field, WP were given a great variety of work. A window in each cottage was taken out and in its stead a doorway was built, which will open out on a fire escape. In this particular instance the fellows were given an opportunity of showing their speed and skill in fitting and hanging double doors. The making and fitting of sash, putting storm doors on the cottages, putting loft type of roof on foundry, build- ing a new set of winders in Mr. Sheerin's house and laying a new maple flooring in the auditorium were some of the other jobs done during this period. For a commencement exercise we built a section of a modern dwelling. On the outside was a porch and the inside was divided into a living room, dining room. kitchen and laundry. In the living room was a colonial open string stairway, while a colonnade stood between the dining room and living room. During our Senior year our shop notes consisted largely of estimating, blue print reading, constructional super- intendence, building code and laws, factory construction, reinforced concrete and hollow tile construction. To Mr. Collins, our very capable instructor, we all owe a debt of appreciation for his kind interest in us. ALBERT G. BENNER 26

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VICTOR G. COLLINS Instructor in charge of Department of Carpentry Qllarpenttp ARPENTERING plays a very important part in the construc- tion of a building of any kind. - If one carefully watches the mechanics on any job he will notice that they can be divided into two distinct classes. One works with his hands but lacks the mental training which would enable him to advance to a position of responsibilityg the other has trained both mind and hands and has been selected to direct the operation. To produce mechanics who will reach the pinnacle of success' in tue commercial field is the aim of lNilliamson School. - Mr. Collins, the instructor in charge of this department, is the one intrusted with the responsibility of turning out mechanics who will fuliill the demands of the industrial field. Mr. Collins began in the early part of the Freshman year by teaching us the fundamentals of the trade. Our lirst instructions were on the use, care and handling of the different tools. We next put some of our newly acquired knowledge into practice by starting a series of exercises. These exercises were so arranged as to enable us to come in contact first, with the simple joints, and later, with the more difficult ones. By the time these exercises were completed we had become thoroughly acquainted with our tools, which is one of the very first requisites of any trade. In the latter part of our Freshman year our time was occupied in making desks, chairs and other pieces of useful furniture, and in doing the small repair jobs about the school. A . We took care of the larger repair jobs in the early part of our junior year, and in so doing got our first experience in construction work. Wliile helping to build an addition to Mr. Bitting's house, we obtained practice in setting j oist and porch columns, laying flooring and bridging. Stair build- ing, which is out of the question with the average carpenter, was under- taken in this period. To this end we erected a set of winders in the pattern shop, which will give a good account of themselves. Although the erection of concrete telegraph poles is a little out of the carpentering line, our experience in this work has taught us to handle more easily jobs which are a bit awkward and- clumsy. The 25

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ai SENIOR CARPENTERS - ,L ' . B ac . SENIOR ENGINEERS