The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-02-06
WORK IS DONE BY BLIND.
TEUTON FACTORY CAP
TAINS INTERESTED /.
Attempt Is Now Being Made to
Salvage the Man Power In
Country
CARL D. eRoAT.
Berlin.-[By Mail,I-German in

Berlin.-IBy Mail,]-German in
du5trial captains are striving TO
make useful workers of the Teuton
war blind and war MANNED. They
have succeeded to such an extent that
today a considerable number are en-
gagged in the hitherto supposedly In
possible work of running machines
which before the war only men with
ali their faculties operated.
The Siemens- Schuckert works here
were the pioneers in trying to salv-
age manpower.
Today, these works believe that
they have given an answer to any
idea that the war blind or the war
manned, except in extraordinary
cases, need be solely objects of char
ity and pity.
Working on their drills, presses,
and boring machines are men totally
blinded. and in some cases with an
arm missing.
Utilization of such cripples has
been made possible through applica-
ton of special machinery. The Sic
mems Schuckert works began their
experiment in human salvaging back
in 1915 before the stream of manned
and blinded had begun to pour back
so extensively as later.
Scoffed at Experiment.
At that time, people scoffed al
the eXneriment. "Of course" they
said, "you can't have blind man
operate a drill or a lathe. You may
but him TO work Gaming chairs or
making brushes, but on this highly
technical work it is quite an impos-
sibility." g..
Siemens S,chackert leaders paid no
attention to this talk, but went ahead
to develop machines upon which
such men could operate with safety.
Special attachments were contrived,
SO that there was no danger to the
operator. In fact, it was found that
With some kinds of drills, blind
man could operate pair. And the
blind man seemd oftentimes to take
greater interest in his work than
man with all his faculties. Per-
haps, because he had pride in being
independent rather than an object
of charity for the rest of his days.
For instance, certain lathes We're
equipped with bells which told the
blind operator when the material in
the lathe had been sufficiently turn
cd. On this machine and on drills
and the like there were special
guards which prevented the work
man from catching his hands in the
mechanism. IL
Works Made Allowances.
Then. too, the works made allow
ances for mans previous occupa
ton. AS an example, it was found
that men formerly engaged in loco
motive work became ill when confin-
ed to operation of small machines
upon which there was no heavy Ia
Dor. These men were transferred to
heavier machines which required
more strength sin manipulation and
which required lifting larger loads.
In some cases, it was discovered
that men were suffering with inter-
nal troubles which were aggravated
by the vibration and noise of a ma
chine shop. Such men were not
adapted to application of the ma
chinist experiment. But, by and
large. it is found that war blind, es-
pecially il they have had previous
mechanical experience can be utiliz-
cd for further work in their own
line. thus saving the community from
financial burden, and making them
productive, self respecting, indie
pendent members of the commun-
|ity. ..