The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-26
REooLLEciIoNs OF BoYHooD.
From the Blacksmith's shop OF Forty
Years Ego to the Machine
Shop of TODAY

onop Oh kOudy.
When ! was boy in the country there
was nothing more fascinating than to
stand in the blacksmith shop and watch
the work. The bright glow OF the fire,
the strokes on the anvil, the flying sparks
and the final shaping OF the shoe or bar
was eagerly watched, and many an hour
that should have been devoted to study or
to building up the physical system by
rambling over the bills and rocks was
spent by the blacksmith's forge, or better
still, perhaps, in the old mill. The innate
life and apparent intelligence OF the sim
pie machinery was q world OF wonder to
the boy. Nowadays boys have better
opportunities and can see larger and more
wonderful machinery, things that in the
simple days OF our country boyhood were
never dreamed OF. / am sure there is
now no truant schoolboy that loves better
10 watch the engine or the work in the
machine shop than do. An hour or
two in well-equipped. well-managed ma
chine shop Is us genuine pleasure TO me
now as ever the simple country forge was
to the boy once was. have learned to
know the difference between good, genuine
work and workmen, and cheap, careless
machinists and Indifferent sorry work.
Que day last week spent some truly hap
py, as well M instructive hours, in the
shops OF tho Memphis Machine Co., No.
| l05 Jefferson street. Passing there in the
| cool OF the morning. attracted by the evil
| dent air OF intelligent work that peryaded
| il, and the unusual neatness OF the floors
and around the machines, passed in, and
keeping my hands of the belts, and my
garments out OF the cogs, went from ma
| chine to machine, interested in the work
oil each. / know | never saw better work.
men, more intelligent direction, or q more
fully and efficiently equipped shop for its
size and capacity. Here were all the ma
chimes needed, and OF the latest and best
makes and patterns. Another thing l
noticed, the floors aud foundations for the
machines were unusually solid and with
out tremor, insuring true and perfect
lines in all their work, lesson well worth
needing in other ways OF life. The super
intendenis OF the works were very courte-
Gus to me. Mr.. "Tipp" Goddard, ma
chinist and builder OF machines OF thirty
wears experience; man renowned for his
skill aud quickness in doing steam
boat work, and difficult repairing
OF engines, and intricate machines
such as many suppose must be sem
North TO be fixed Mr.. Duke, younger
but Just rs able ana expert in his line. lie
greatly interested and instructed me by
showing me numerous little improvements
and labor saving and cost saving devices
which he had added and was constant!
adding to his machines and thus increas
, ing their productive power. Here wa
done all sorts OF iron and brass fitting
turning, repairing and making One new
| idea TO me was that they bought all thei
rough castings instead Of having a fonndr!
OF their own; he said they thus had onl.
perfect work TO use, and could give bette
prices than If they attempted 10 do thei
a own foundry work. The shop was full o
, work, both new and repairing. Their
! were machines OF all kinds being built AM
: repaired, all the machinery oi plan tatiol
: work, everything that could be done i
: any machine shop which had all possibl
, needed machinery, aud plenty OF capital {
: back IL. The capacious blacksmith sho
4 looked 10 me now, rs those OF boyoo
looked TO me then. Whether YOU hav,
: work for them to do or not, there is inucl
4 10 be learned, Of value 10 man or boy, II
!. visiting such a machine shop, and II
$ true, useful, manly information, and 20
= learn to hayea greater respect Tor those VII
q 80 well manage these ponderous machines
|. and turn out from them the best wor
: they can do. kALAKAuA.