Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-13

Learning how to diagnose the
case of disabled flivver, TO pre-
scribe for it's disorder, to discuss
technical symptoms in a new lam
guage, to effect a cure and to send
in an itemized bill for professional
services rendered, are all being ac-
complished at the new school OF
automobile mechanics which has
been established here by the L. S.
veterans bureau. The school IS
running full blast in its new quar-
ters at 401 North First street.
For many of the trainees who
come to class in greasy oyeralls,
hut with carefully clean hands, the
whole process of learning the me-
chanics trade is one OF learning
to handle the English language al
so. For these men who were UNI
able to read or write English a
clever scheme of class work train
ing based on their actual shop eX-
perience has been worked out.
1t is Miss Lena r. Ricketts,, who
taught English to the tune of the
shoe makers machinery in the re-
pair shop, who is now teaching the
men to read, spell and identify
tNCl IllluS GDouI oll eiuNoilippiiNi
from the honk to the tail light.
Miss Ricketts, was no mechanic
when she started in the course, but
she will be by the time she gradu-
ates.
English class work for the me-
chanics-to-be consists of dfctatlon
from the instruction book which ar
fords many new and strange words,
the learning of automobile parts,
how to pronounce, spell and de-
scribe them, and written exercises
in connection with the work of the
shop. In the latter connection the
men wrote last week for catalogs
and parts needed in the shop. Later
they will take up the reading of
technical motor trade journals.
Mathematics Practical.
The mathematics course is
equally practical to the trainees
and is likewise based upon the
actual shop work. The men are
learning to figure the sizes of all
parts of engines and to make COM
putations necessary in adjusting
parts Later on, decimals will be
undertaken in computing cost of
labor and parts supplies on ma
chimes. A short system of book
keeping for the men who Will
eventually operate their own repair
shops will be given later.
Each trainee in the shop spends
an hour and a half in the class
room each morning, devoting the
remainder of the day to actual
work in the shop under the di-
rection of competent mechanic.
There are two classes in both
English and mathematics, one for
elementary students and one for
advanced. Although the class
work is optional with the students
only three of the SO enrolled at
present failed to take advantage
of the opportunity to improve
their Quotations.
The work shop is a great bare
hall with automobiles in several
stages of disintegration scattered
all about, man or two crawling
over each. The shop is not yet
fully equipped, only the scant
equipment which belonged to the
Fort Bayard shop having arrived
yet. When the machinery is all
installed the shop will be the best
in the city. John Hall, who was
formerly at the Fort Bayard shop,
is instructor in charge.
Actual Repair Work.
The men in the shop are not
| going through any school text
course in mechanics but are be-
ing set to work directly on motors
under close supervision of the in
structor. In this manner the men
are gaining actual experience on
all classes of engines and in all
sorts of trouble. The cars used
for laboratory purposes are those
of the government and state Of
ficials, and of the trainees them
selves. the repair work being done
for the actual cost of materials.
A supply room is being fitted
out in one corner of the build
ing where all necessary tools and
engine parts will be kept on hand
The Willys-Knight Motor COM
pany has contributed a model mo-
tor to the school for study pur-
poses as have the Ford Motor
company. Many companies which
have not actually contributed ma
chinery and parts to the school
are offering them at fifty and
seventy-five per cent reductions.
A big magnetic firm has sent a
model magnetic with moving pic
ture film showing the principals
upon which the magnetic works.
AS soon as work benches are
built, and the motors installed to
run the various pieces of machin-