Old Books Bring Back Memories

[gee-dub]

Came across a couple old books.  Grandpa's on the left, and Dad's on the right.

 

1932 and 1949.

 

 

[curlyoak]

3rd generation. A partial explanation of why you are so good at your work! Did they encourage you and teach you? How old were you when you first were introduced to tools? The books are great legacies to both men. Those who learn a craft young are frequently the best. Does it go back deeper into other generations? Thanks for sharing! 

[gee-dub]

Dad's dad was a home machinist, woodworker who also dabbled in pottery and jewelry. He built his own house with a garage/shop and an art studio for grandma.  He raised his kids and lived there till he and grandma were gone.  

In my own youth there was never a car in the garage.  The door was sealed and there was a home shop and dark room.  My dad also did many hobbies including some small woodworking. 

I was one of those kids who had trouble figuring out which end of the screwdriver to use.  One of my early jobs was as a go-fer at a heavy equipment yard.  I eventually learned maintenance and repair of large crawlers and so forth and how to use tools.  

I was in garage bands junior high through college and began making speaker cabinets.  This led to a small company building sound reinforcement speakers but I was better at designing and building them than I was at running a business .

Life intervened and I didn't make much sawdust between college and 2002.  I bought a used contractor saw and bandsaw while working up in Silly-cone Valley to see if I still had the interest.  It stuck and 20-odd years later I built the shop I am in today.  Now my only commissions are what I feel like doing and I hope to do it till I run out of gas .

[drzaius]

I have a complete set of Popular Mechanics encyclopedias from 1959. It's fun to browse through every now and then, but they are mostly just cool decoration. They do look good on a shelf.

[Chet]

On 3/16/2025 at 10:16 AM, drzaius said:

I have a complete set of Popular Mechanics encyclopedias from 1959. It's fun to browse through every now and then,

I always enjoy the advertisements from bak in the day.