The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-03-21
BLIND MAN is
GOOD MACAINIST
Operates Lathes, Drill Presses
Grinders and Other Machines
in Machine Shop.
TAKING UNIVERSITY COURSE
Foreman In Shop Says He Is as Good
as the Best and Better Than Many
Reads Micrometer
Readily.

Ensing of Grand Rapids Is working
In the engineering shops Of the Uni,
versity of Michigan, and daily op'
crates lathes, drill presses, grinders,
shapers and planners, and according to
the shop foreman, e. M. Sweet, he is
doing 1t as we'll as the best, and bet
ter than most of the other students In
the shop.
Ensing has been blind since he was
eight years old. He is studying In the
university on Red Cross scholarship
for the blind, given by the Detroit
chapter of the national organization.
He has pledged himself to devote him
self to teaching other blind people
how to become self-supporting after
he has completed his work here. For
the past five years he has taught the
blind the art of basketry, which he
himself learned in the Michigan
School for the Blind, and has taught
them other trades also.
Help for Sightiess.
II demonstrated to my own salts
faction that blind men could work on
factory machines" he said, "but had
difficulty in getting places for the
blind. Then came the Red Cross
scholarship offer. l will get to know
the men and they to know me and my
work. They will see what blind
man can do, and believe they will
help to open the doors Of the manu-
featuring plants to the sightless. OF
course In shops Of special production
where the work must be done from
a blue print, the blind man would be
too greatly handicapped, and in shops
where there is great deal Of noise
there is great hazard for him."
Ensing came to the university about
six months ago and was led through
the shops, past the whirling ma
chinery, and told where each piece set,
belts in which his clothing might get
tangled. After that he threaded his
way among the machines without help,
and operated his own machine with
out accident. Some of the machinery
he operates makes above 800 revolu-
tons q minute.
Ensing believes drill pressure ma
chimes lend themselves especially well
to blind operators. Woodworking
factories offer greater opportunities
to the sightless than the woodworking
Industries do. The greatest possibili-
ties for the blind operators, he be-
lieves, will be found In the plant of
quantity production Of small articles.
Foreman Sweet says: "Mr. Ensing's
work is not performed automatically,
as one might suppose. 1t can't be
done that way on some of the ma
chimes. He reasons, and he sees with
his sensitive fingers what another man
sees with his eyes. We allow every
student limit of $1,000 of an inch
In the work he does, but Mr.. Ensing
never uses up that margin. can't
say the same of most Of them"
Proves His Efficiency
The foreman admitted that he saw
Ensing come into the shops with dread.
when he wanted to be put on the
planer l rebelled, but after the first
day on the planer forgot all about 1t.
He reads a micrometer as accurately
and as readily as any other student.
He has rugged up little contrivancs
that he attaches to the instrument
just two rubber bands and a needle
and with the help of his fingers he
reads quicker than some of the men
who have their sight. He uses every
machine in the shop except the dry
grinder. and expect every day to hear
him demand that He operates the cy-
lindrical grinder, milling machines, en-
CINE and turret lathes, drill presses,
shapers and planners. His work is a
marvel of neatness and he Is chain
lightning for speed"
While student In the state school
for the blind Ensing played guard on
the schools football team.
There Is no reason why a blind
man with Dormal brain can't work
and enjoy himself as well as the man
who can see," Ensing says. "True,
we miss the great blessing of sight,
and none of us but long for our sight,
but ] sometimes wonder If the blind
have not keener sense of enjoyment |
of the things they can and do en1oy |
fhon houo thnSo xyho oon eoon