Auto Mechanics from 1890 until today

[themechanic]

 

[1STMP]

Great video!
Not many recognise the separations
of mechanics over the years.
50 years of mechanical design and
four different production lines
(busses, Military, Oilfield, Powerline)
Held a pretty tight relationship
with the mechanics. They were the
ones who kept the wheels rolling.
Actually turned a few wrenches
with them. Implementing new designs in their research and
developement. The FMTV, BAE
Sytems, went from a knapkin
sketch to full production in
less than 6 months. Mechanics
made it happen. Saved hundreds
of lives.

 

[Cranky]

Great video!
Not many recognise the separations
of mechanics over the years.
50 years of mechanical design and
four different production lines
(busses, Military, Oilfield, Powerline)
Held a pretty tight relationship
with the mechanics. They were the
ones who kept the wheels rolling.
Actually turned a few wrenches
with them. Implementing new designs in their research and
developement. The FMTV, BAE
Sytems, went from a knapkin
sketch to full production in
less than 6 months. Mechanics
made it happen. Saved hundreds
of lives.

Working in maintenance at a refinery.....well, the company looked at us as a cost but liked the production side because they were the money makers. It was like working for a different company going from maintenance to production. Thing is, we were the ones that kept the crap running when the production guys messed it up. It was always them against us type of thing.

 

[1STMP]

Working in maintenance at a refinery.....well, the company looked at us as a cost but liked the production side because they were the money makers. It was like working for a different company going from maintenance to production. Thing is, we were the ones that kept the crap running when the production guys messed it up. It was always them against us type of thing.

Recognise the rub. The ultimate was to
get the product out the door and into
the hands of the user. Be it though,
the hands of a lowly private.
I put up with many years of ridicule.
"WTF were these guys thinking?*
But it resulted in a zero lives lost.
scenario.

 

[Cranky]

Recognise the rub. The ultimate was to
get the product out the door and into
the hands of the user. Be it though,
the hands of a lowly private.
I put up with many years of ridicule.
"WTF were these guys thinking?*
But it resulted in a zero lives lost.
scenario.

Too many in production thought they knew more than we did and made 'adjustments'......like to a pump packing gland. If it was leaking a bit too much, they would tighten up the gland to the point there was no leaking at all and it didn't take long to burn up the packing and then you had a major leak. If it was way too tight, it would also ruin the pump shaft. Up side....if it didn't cause a fire, they kept us in work lol but occasionally, we did end up with a fire.

Anyways, we slowly switched over to mechanical seals and all that mess stopped but the production guys found other things to mess up. We did lose a few lives though over the 26 years that I was there but no one got killed in the machinist department at least. Also, much to my surprise, all the machinists had all of their fingers and toes!

 

[1STMP]

Too many in production thought they knew more than we did and made 'adjustments'......like to a pump packing gland. If it was leaking a bit too much, they would tighten up the gland to the point there was no leaking at all and it didn't take long to burn up the packing and then you had a major leak. If it was way too tight, it would also ruin the pump shaft. Up side....if it didn't cause a fire, they kept us in work lol but occasionally, we did end up with a fire.

Anyways, we slowly switched over to mechanical seals and all that mess stopped but the production guys found other things to mess up. We did lose a few lives though over the 26 years that I was there but no one got killed in the machinist department at least. Also, much to my surprise, all the machinists had all of their fingers and toes!

Sounds like we've had very similar
experiances.
I dearly loved my vocation.
It put bread and butter on the table.

 

[WileE]

 

[Armyvet25]

I was an ASE Certified tech with a cert in emissions, owned and managed sever shops, helicopter mechanic, owner/op truck driver of country trucking, etc etc but today i feel like an "Auto Mechanics from 1890" when you look under the hood of so many vehicles today. Have you seen under the hood of a newer Bronco....RELEASE THE KRAKEN

 

[68BabyBlue]

Working in maintenance at a refinery.....well, the company looked at us as a cost but liked the production side because they were the money makers. It was like working for a different company going from maintenance to production. Thing is, we were the ones that kept the crap running when the production guys messed it up. It was always them against us type of thing.

Same in the trucking business, drivers generating revenue, mechanics a cost to keep the wheels bringing that money in. I wrenched on my own truck in the 70s, left me with huge respect for the guys on the shop floor. I recognized how much better they could do the job, and I survived as an owner operator, because they shared their knowledge with me.

 

[themechanic]

I was an ASE Certified tech with a cert in emissions, owned and managed sever shops, helicopter mechanic, owner/op truck driver of country trucking, etc etc but today i feel like an "Auto Mechanics from 1890" when you look under the hood of so many vehicles today. Have you seen under the hood of a newer Bronco....RELEASE THE KRAKEN
View attachment 1800836

Looks like they got hosed. lol

 

[themechanic]

I never thought about the divergence of Mechanics into mechanical or auto body.

Interesting how the factory painting used a brush in the early days.

 

[Cranky]

I was an ASE Certified tech with a cert in emissions, owned and managed sever shops, helicopter mechanic, owner/op truck driver of country trucking, etc etc but today i feel like an "Auto Mechanics from 1890" when you look under the hood of so many vehicles today. Have you seen under the hood of a newer Bronco....RELEASE THE KRAKEN
View attachment 1800836

Reminds me of the late 70's and into the 80 vehicles!

 

[khryslerkid]

I remember when a mechanic had to know and do it all. Then they changed things to being a specialist.

 

[themechanic]

I remember when a mechanic had to know and do it all. Then they changed things to being a specialist.

My uncle worked at a Dodge dealership in OKC in the 60s and 70s. By then, they had specialists for transmission, tune up, engine, etc.