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THE TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

XXIV

1929 Continued

Flint, Mich., along with Lerner and Alexis Kononoff. "I came here the first part of July and have just been going through the different departments of the experimental department. To date I have been through the dynamometer rooms, records department, transmissions and clutches, brakes and axles, the engineering department, and the building up and repair departments. All the work in the experimental department is on new motors. Ever since I have been here they have been working on the 1931 car which will probably be announced in August. I haven't found any work I like well enough to follow up, so I am still drifting around. I may get something, though, one of these days.

"Lerner came here the first of August and after about four and a half months was given the job of assistant dynomometer engineer. His job is sort of a foremanship in that he sees that the men -- about fifteen or twenty in number -- are given work. He seems well satisfied and is getting along fine and making a name for himself." Mac goes on to say that "Kononoff came to make his contribution to the Buick car early last fall. He is doing experimental work on their torsional balancer." And so now Buicks are Kononoff built! Tell us how you did it, Alexis.

Sam Schaffer writes in from Lynn that he is with the General Electric Company in that city researching for new production methods. "I alternately spend three months in the laboratory and three months in test. In the laboratory our job is to design and install new production and stock control systems. On test I have had assignments on motor tests, compressor tests, and am going shortly on turbine tests. I have also had three months' assignment in the time study and I am enjoying it very much -- all except the 7:00 A.M. time of starting when on test. Turbine test, I understand from those who have been on it, is as bad as some of Eddie Miller's boiler studies: "Upon my word, gentlemen, the cast iron floor around the turbine was a soft sticky mass. The steam pipes carrying 1400 pounds were white hot and so soft that they bulged out in spots where condensate collected. It doesn't seem possible, but the water as it left the condenser was so hot that it was being used to run a 750-pound turbine, and so on.'" I shouldn't worry about it, however, Sam. It is quite a safe and interesting place to work although they do like to send newcomers for a bucket of steam or a pound of ohms. However, having had 2.41 and 6.40, they shouldn't be able to trip you up!

Dave Wilson has located in Chicago with the standards department of Swift and Company, and what a reception the windy city gave him! "The first week I was here I was held up by a couple of thugs with guns. I fooled the, though, because I had most of my money in an inside pocket under some papers. It was a good thrill while it lasted, but I was rather afraid of a nervous trigger finger. However, they finished without molestation and went on their way." According to Dave, Speyer, Erickson, and little Hereford (Blake) are also in Chicago. Speyer is with the Barber-Greene Company, and Erickson and Blake are at the Chicago office of the Sullivan Machinery Company, all of which, I imagine, has made the problem of the Chicago city officials more difficult than ever. How about a letter sometime, Hereford and the rest of you?

Rogers is still out on the coast grinding out wharf and bridge designs and, in between times, to relieve the monotony I suppose, salvaging grounded freighters now and then. Says Bonzo, "My job is just as interesting as ever. They have given me plenty of chances to learn the game. One of the big oil companies said they wanted a new wharf. They turned the job over to me. It wasn't such a big job, but I learned plenty. I designed the new structure, made the estimate, and now have just finished looking after the construction. About a week ago a big new freighter with a valuable cargo for the Orient went ashore about ten miles east of us. We got the job of floating it and got it off the first night."

As for Springfield, Mass., it looks better than ever to me, as business is fine both before and after five o'clock. My company covers Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut as well as western Massachusetts, so I am on the road a good part of the time. I run into Technology men quite frequently. Recently, while working on Orange and vicinity, I ran into George White, Course VII. He is with the Minute Tapioca Company at Orange as a research chemist. George took me through the factory and it sure is some place, both qualitatively and quantitatively speaking, meaning big, clean, and well geared up. George himself, with his white uniform, looked more like a dapper, high-priced staff surgeon than a grimy engineer. Nothing but Minute Tapioca from now on, George!

The New England Intercollegiate Glee Club contest was held in Springfield this year, and so we had with us a real delegation from the Institute one night not so long ago. After the concert the club, or part of it I should say, came down to the Rainville and put on an impromptu concert as of old, and I want to tell you, had they sung earlier in the evening as they did then, first place would have been easy picking. Of course I'll admit that the inspiration had something to do with it. As time went on they improved, until finally we were given the air -- nice, cool, fresh Springfield morning air, outdoors. We then adjourned to the Stonehaven and there carried on until again we were threatened when the party was broken up. A good time was had by all -- except Billy Weston.

A week ago I met Red Taber '28 on the main street of Springfield. He is with the Fisk Rubber Company at Chicopee Falls, installing, or supervising a newly installed Bedeau incentive system. -- Malcolm Hubbard VI-C is also in town, with the New England Telephone Company. Just what he is doing, I don't know, as we talked only for a few minutes. -- Remember in 501 and 502 an instructor by the name of Weber? He, too, has located in Springfield, being with the Fiberloid Corporation. I believe he is doing chemical research work.

Fisher Hill, I understand, is with the Stanley Works at New Britain, Conn., and if first impressions are lasting, I am never going to like his adopted town. Some time ago I was on my way home after a week in Connecticut and thought I would stop in and say hello to Fisher. Half way through the city I ran afoul of a local motorcycle cop who promptly booked me for a date with the judge the next morning. As Will Rogers says, "We ain't no good in conferences," and I was no exception, as a conference with the captain met me nothing except the judge's name and address in exchange for $25.00 bond. However, the judge was O. K., regular, and so on. I found him anxious to get up to Hartford before the bank closed, his own car was at home, and would I exchange a nol. pros. of the ticket for a ride to Hartford. Would I? Just imagine my embarrassment! I hope I'll have better luck next time, Fisher.

And that just about exhausts news for this time. I imagine by the time this gets printed it will be most summer time, so best wishes for a pleasant summer. It'll be quite a problem to cram the old twenty week vacation into a mere two, but then it could be worse. Incidentally, another chap and I are planning on cottaging on a nearby lake for the summer and if any of you fellows are within gun shot of Thompson Lake, just remember that the latch is always off the door at "Wit's End," Thompson Lake, Palmer, Mass. -- ELMER A. SKONBERG, Secretary, Electric Motor Repair Company, 11-31 Park Street, Springfield, Mass.

COURSE XVII
After having received several threatening notes and one or two mysterious telephone calls, I decided to give heed to these messages and write in what Course Notes I have obtained. Good old Technology inertia is my only excuse, and I hope that my coursemates who read this will remember the days when they were afflicted with this malady and not act too harshly with me. I am still at the Institute working for the Building Construction Department and taking advanced work. The Department which started in 1927 has grown from the original seventeen students to about 100 at the present writing. Plans are now under way to enlarge the scope of the Course to include original research in the field of constructions. So much for shop talk.

Charlie Pease is in town working for the R. Guastavino Company. Charlie came true to form and developed into as fine a high pressure salesman as you would ever want to close your door upon. Charlie is making good on the job and already has been sent out on many trips. When in town Charlie may be reached at his fraternity or at Harry Ware's home.