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I told him by using 17.7 to 1 reduction. "You can't do that," in his ugly way again. I asked him why not, beginning to get hot under the collar at his typical, boorish, unpleasant manner. (I thought, "I certainly judged this bird too soon") He said it was no good for 70 tons and he wouldn't recommend it and he had quoted Porter yesterday on HM motors and intimated he had told them the GE 1204, which we are using on our proposition thru McDonald is not suitable for this weight with 25 MPH gearing. I told him that put us in a fine position. "I ain't going to change it," he insisted stubbornly and I let it drop. I had a session with John Aydelott afterwards about it and John said Shap was wrong and I was right - John's only fear was overspeed and I was far better off that way with 25 MPH gearing than Shap was with his 18 MPH. So I told Henry Guy the story - Whitey's away - but Henry didn't want to call Shap - said to tell Jay the story and I did. Henry agreed to cut $1000 off too and I got Spike to agree to meet curvature. So I got Jay all set and warned. Now, if we can stave off the asinine move by Shap from upsetting the applecart, I think we have a good chance at the business.

All is well at home. This damned unpleasant fracas with Shap today kept me stirred up even after I got home. One thing I must learn is not to lose my temper with him. Because he is a boor is the best reason why I shouldn't be one. But boy, does that guy rile me up! He ought to be psychoanalysed.