Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-04-24
HIGH SCHOOL TRADE COURSE MEETS UTILITY TEST
90 % %
SEEKS FINISHED PRODUCT IN STEEL AND in STUDENT
o.
GIRLS EXCEL BOYS IN AUTO MECHANICS TRAINING
(BY CLINTON p. ANDERsON.J

(BY CLINTON 2. ANDERSON.)
There is a factory in Albuquer-
que for the production Of high
grade machine shop equipment. 1t
does not produce quantities; some
times only a half dozen articles;
usually only one. 1t does not keep
union hours and its product does
not bear the union stamp, but the
machinists unions do not object.
il is the shop for training in man
ual arts operated by the high
school under the Smith Hughes
act.
Few people in Albuquerque real
ize that the high school Is offer
ing practical training in machine
shop practice and in auto mechan-
les. Fewer still have visited the
plant where the instruction is CIV
en-. II a trip of inspection were
arranged, the visitor would find a
plant where pattern making, wood
work, cabinet making and the
metal trades were taught with
equipment of which any machine
shop in the city might be proud
and which Is constantly being inn
proved by the work of the students
themselves.
The product of the high school
shop must bear the strict test of
utility. The students do not spend
their time making mechanical
drawings of toy balloons or cast
ing metal paperweights. The one
thing that the student needs is
practical training in doing things
slowly and carefully which he
must later do in quantity produc-
tion. The chief thing the shop
needs is equipment. Tho two are
brought together in the drafting
and building of machinery for the
shop.
The shop uses the manufactur-
er's method for production work.
The instructors are putting out a
finished product in steel, but also
a finished product In the student.
Can Trace Production.
A walk through the shop should
properly start on the wood work
ing side. Here the boys get pat
tern making, cabinet making and
wood turning. The pattern making
is practical and meets the utility
test. The visitor is shown model
in wood OF a swivel-base machin-
lists wise. He can, walking through
the plant, follow that wise until
the pattern is ready; see the mold
that is made, see the metal as it
comes from the foundry, notice
how it is cut to form, grooved,
fitted together, a shaft turned
down and a screw devised. In
short, the entire manufacturing
process, barring only the casting,
which Is done from the mold at the
foundry can be inspected in few
minutes tour. '.A
There are not only patterns for
vises. They range from small tools
to large stand for mounting ma
chimes like emery wheels. The
idea is to equip the shop, have
money, give the boys practical
training and also furnish some
thing for them to do. For in
stance, a swivel base wise costs SIT
retail. 1t can be made by the boys
for less than $40.
compete with manufacturers. 1t
could not If 1t paid wages, for its
production rate would be too low.
But 1t can and does save for the
school board while giving the boys
training. Another instance: the
center heads and index heads for
a milling machine are now being
made. When completed, the ma
chine would normally cost 5000.
The high school classes will build
it for SIS.
The wood working department
has three-speed lathes, a band saw,
a circular saw, a joiner, which are
all individual motor driven. II has
benches and miscellaneous hand
tools.
Factory For School.
At present, emphasis is laid up
on patterns, because machinery Is
needed, but the boys also make
cabinets for Photographic records
owned by the schools, theatrical
properties for the stage In the
high school auditorium, tool boxes
for the metal workers, playground
equipment, the hurdles, vaulting
standards Nand track stakes used
in track athletics and similar
things. In short, the wood work
ing department is small factory
for school supplies.
Occasionally a few things are
turned out for the individuals
such as porch swings, library
tables, and the like. But no mat.
ter what is done, as far as the
school is concerned, it is practical
and virtually self sustaining.
On the metal side, the students
learn elementary forge work, auto
mechanics and shop practice. Ev.
erything is done with the idea OF
using il somewhere.
In the auto mechanics work
there are two groups. One group
is composed of five girls and five
boys. The instructor, +. McGough
Jr., says that the girls are little
ahead of the boys in both theory
and practice. At present the class
has a Studebaker automobile en-
tirely stripped down-even the
paint has been taken off. They
are now rebuilding the car In
struction is given in timing valves
adjusting carburators, handling
ignition and the like. The real
axle and the differential are
studied. instruction is intended tc
give the student some idea of this
fundamentals of car repair so that
he will sympathize with garage
men.
The other group consists of boy!
only. They are actually repairing
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