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

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Tn inverin 4 P arimcut B B F The trade of Operating Engineering as taught at William- son constitutes a very practical and theoretical course of study. The first six months of the Freshman year the apprentice spends in the machine shop where he is given a brief, but thorough course in elementary exercises, including plain chip- ping, filing and fitting, belt lacing, forge work, babbiting and scraping boxes, and the reading of micrometers, outside and inside calipers, vernier calipers, and the speed indicator. He also acquires a full knowledge of the setting up of work on the lathe, drill press, shaper, planer, and the operation of the same. All this is accompanied by a correlated course of study. In the latter half of the year the student goes to the power plant. Here he learns the names of the tools used in the trade and the use of same, and has charge of issuing the supplies. When the apprentice becomes a Junior, he is taken on the operating staff of the school power plant as an assistant. He now makes daily inspection of the school plant, i. e., pump in- spection, inspection of the water, lighting and heating fixtures, and helps make repairs for the upkeep and maintenance of the same. He also gets a thorough line of boiler repair work, in- cluding that disagreeable but knowledge-gaining test of clean- ing the boilers, which also includes the removing of old and re- placing of new tubes, and the rolling of the same, the setting of safety valves and many minor details. Shop talks, notes, and the studv of a text book with a quiz every month conclude this work. The student now ontcrs upon the last year. He is now a member of the operating staff and is on duty in the engine room twelve hours a day for a period of one week. Each member of the Senior Engfncering Class has this duty to perform on an average of once every two months. While on duty 24 VERNON L RUPP lnslruclor

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Glarpenirg Carpentry, as you may know, plays a very important part in the construction of any building. It is a very broad subject, but no part is slighted in the course at WILLIAMSON. When the student first enters as a Freshman, he is taught how to use the various tools and to become accustomed to them. He is required to make a series of fifty-seven exercises which include all the joints a carpenter needs to know. Along with the practical work, the student is given the theory and takes notes from the instructor's daily talks. In the latter part of the Freshman Year, the time is used in making small articles of furniture, such as desks, chairs, and seats, and in doing the smaller repair jobs around the school. In the Junior Year the student does the larger repair work of the school and in this way obtains practice in applying his notes. He also is taught stair building, and is required to build a set of stairs in order to be able to construct them in the most practical manner. In the notes the following subjects are covered: the setting of hard- Ware, construction of frame structures, and regular roof framing. For the commencement exercises, the Juniors usually erect a full size hip and valley roof. All the rafters are laid out with the aid of the steel square. This is the quickest and most accurate method, as all rafters are cut on the ground and slipped into place as the work progresses. The construction and erection of cornices, gutter poles and dormer windows, also shingling were encountered in this exercise. In the Senior Year, the work becomes more interesting. The student learns to construct windows, also irregular roofs and stairs, by erecting them in the shop. He is taught the use of the architect's level. Porch construction, brick veneer and brick building construction, concrete work and estimating are thoroughly covered. For commencement the Seniors built a section of a modern dwelling, includ- ing fireplace, bookcases. and French windows. All the mill work, such as making moulding, baseboards, balustrades, trim, etc., is done by the student, as he has access to the machinery in the shop, which consists of a planer, circular saw, two jointers, two lathes, one electric and one belt-driven, and an upright moulder. Mr. C. R. Miller, our instructor, deserves much credit for the capable manner in which he has extended to us his knowledge in the various branches of carpentry. I wish, on behalf of the members of our section, to thank him for his personal interest in our future welfare. RONALD M. HEEBNER. CHARLES R. MILLER Instructor

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l l l the apprentice has chargeil of the operation and supervision of a refrigerating and ice-making plant, operation of a steam engi e directly connected to a D. C. generator, and the operating of a switch- boardg oil lubrication, in He also gets a thoro of alternators, rotary co teries, the winding of ar wattmeter, pyrometer, g fledged mechanic. Not enough can be Engineers of 1920, to ex instruction. S cl 11 n n al a t uding the filling of lubricators and the measuring of oils. gh knowledge of electrical work, including both A. C. and D. C., the operation verters, mercury arc rectifiers, transformers, the charging of storage bat- iatures, and the reading of such instruments as the volt-meters, ammeter, ,vanometer and numerous others that tend to make the apprentice a full- id of our Chief, i Mr. V. L. Rupp, and, in closing, I wish, on behalf of the end our sincere appreciation to him for his untiring efforts for our thorough ' G. HAROLD SUTTON. 25