The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-04

part who does not understand the me-
chanical whole. The man educated by
experience along only one line Of me-
chanics, with little general mechanical
knowledge, does not see beyond the
boundary Of that which he is doing,
and therefore cannot connect the broad
with the narrow, and is unable to get
the most out Of his machines or the
most out of his employees. But let
it be understood that education, even
in the best institute of technology, does
not, and cannot, make mechanic; and
does not, and cannot, fit one to become
s manufacturer; neither can it produce
the skilled workman. There must be
natural ability in the first place, other
wise the education will be like good
seed sown in bad soil.
would not advise any boy to con-
slider the possibility Of becoming a man
ufacturer who has not a decided me-
chanieal bent, who is not handy with
his hands, who does not possess a cre-
ative mind, and who does not know
how to produce something, or to inn
prove upon something already made.
He need not necessarily be an inventor,
but he should not be utterly lacking in
inventive propensities. ~
The boy who cannot make anything,
who cannot do anything mechanical,
who cannot properly hang a door, or
drive a nail, or saw board straight,
is not likely to have in him the essen
tials Of the manufacturer. I do not
mean to say that it is necessary for a
boy to be mechanically expert to sue
coed in manufacturing; but the boy
! who has no mechanical skill had bet
| ter keep way from manufacturing.
If he has the mechanical ability he
will succeed even tho his success be
confined to the purely factory side; but
If he develops with mechanical ability,
business sagacity and the power to
properly handle men, he will sooner or
d. later become a superintendent or a
managing head, and, perhaps, an owner
in the business. X. :.
! 10 become a manufacturer, In COM
mercial sense, one must have business
ability as well as mechanical skill. The
boy who is simply mechanical, and
1 who has no head for business, who
simply makes something for the sake
OF making it without any regard, to its
practical value, may or may not be q
mechanical genius; but he is not
adapted to manufacturing. In other
words, the successful manufacturer
must have love for the mechanical
and some skill in mechanics, and in
addition to this must possess a. gen;
eral business capacity, which will en-
able him to proftably sell what he
makes. - AL
I-cannotz too forcibiys impress upo1
the boy, and upon his parents, the tire
mendous advantage Of liberal educa
tlon. This education will do one o.
two things: It will either show tn.
boy that he is untitled for manufacture
1ng-and it is worth a great deal tx
know what one cannot door it VIII
acquaint him with rating of. his ca
pac1ty. The graduate Of a technical
school seldom remains at the bottom
He is generally found in later year.
at least half way towards the top, ane
Is quite often near the top, or at thu
top. :9*
i The combined process of making ,
manufacturer appear to be about d,
follows: First, the right kind Of boy
one with both a mechanical and bust
ness >brain;. second, common schoo
educatlon;;s Third, a technical education
J, in some institute Of technology o
POLYTECHNIC school; fourth, beginnin,
. at the very bottom of the factory en-,
and working up until he has mastere,
most Of the details and all Of the prin
ciples of manufacturing When th
boy or young man has become thu
, equipped, he will be in position t
grasp opportunity and even to assis
3 in making opportunity.