Master Hands

[1991notchbackLX]

I came across this video on the HAMB and it made me think of Madmike's question "what has happened to America's youth?" This movie is about a half hour long, but it's worth every second. It was released by Chevrolet in 1936 to showcase the skill, mastery, and hand craftsmanship of the American worker in the automobile industry and beyond. The fact that tasks like the ones seen in the video are done by robotic workers in today's world is one of the major things wrong with this country, in my honest and humble opinion. Look at the men working in the video-- all young, capable, healthy, Americans. Outsourcing? No thank you. Were these men cut from a different cloth, or have we failed to stay true to the values many of them died to protect? You be the judge...


The Jalopy Journal » Blog Archive » Master Hands

 

[LarsD]

Love of money by the elite is a big part of the problem. It's looking like my current job may be headed overseas. This would be the third time in the last twelve years I will have lost a position due to outsourcing.

 

[aar0s]

good to see im not the only troll over there! I saw that but haven't watched it yet (dont make much since does it), most of his links play like **** on my old computer.

there was a couple that he posted, one about how the SFFD still makes and uses their own wooden ladders, one that had been in service for nearly 100 years, and the other was about a hand built bike co. in Ca. looked like it was ran out of a large garage, cool stuff.

 

[aar0s]

with over 5 million views and 1450 pages, this is a great thread over there that some racers here would enjoy,
History Drag cars in motion.......picture thread. - THE H.A.M.B.

 

[1991notchbackLX]

Sorry to hear that Lars, I'm sure you'll land on your feet.

 

[NIKwoaC]

The fact that tasks like the ones seen in the video are done by robotic workers in today's world is one of the major things wrong with this country

I have to disagree. At some point, it becomes an argument of technological progress and evolution versus traditionalism.

Did you know it takes the people in Dearborn roughly the same amount of time to build a 2012 F150 as it did to build a Model T? The same amount of time to build a vehicle that is light years ahead of its predecessors. Technology makes things better, it's only up to the individual to pursue an education/career and stay ahead of the curve.

I have to imagine that a lot of the men shown in this video, if brought into today's society, would be educated with a bachelor's or a master's degree, sitting behind a desk, running FEA software on an A-arm or developing a new stamping process for a quarter panel.

There have always been worthless people and motivated, skilled and educated people. Jobs just change, and media/communication has done a better job of displaying the former.

Cool video, though. I love seeing that kind of stuff.

 

[1991notchbackLX]

I agree with you to an extent, Nik. However, I don't feel the relationship between the complexity of a technology and the intellect of the person using it is a direct one in all cases. I'm not inclined to agree that any technology that makes life "easier" also makes life better. Coming from someone with the utmost respect for technology, and an advanced degree in Energy Tech, I still think there's something to be said for real craftsmanship.

Pick the five most technologically advanced devices in your possession and state their countries of origin. I'm not even sure what I'm driving at exactly, but what I see in the video are men who would equate to my peers if they were alive today, performing precision tasks with their own hands and minds.

Generationally, I can't imagine my true life peers doing the same things with any level of success. The sense of entitlement bred into them just wouldn't allow it. Heaven forbid you put eight hours into something every day and come home tired, but proud of a product you can stake your reputation on. Who knows...