You mention training in the more difficult lines of effort, such
as Tool Room, Machine Shops, etc. We agree with you as to the wide
possibilities in this field, and are now organizing to accomplish
this very thing at the Lincoln Motor Company.
At the beginning of the war when labor shortage was seriously
manifested, I had charge of the reconstruction of a tool room,
employing 270 toolmakers and machinists, engaged in the making of
cutters, reamers, broaches, drill jigs, milling fixtures, etc.
Realizing then the difficulty that the future held in store of
securing competent, reliable toolmakers and machinists, we undertook
to train men who had no previous experience in this line. Our results
were quite gratifying. We classified all work and trained men to
operate specific machines against the various classifications.
To illustrate: We engaged a carpenter 67 years of age, who had no
previous machine shop experience, trained him to run a Universal
Milling Machine; not only did he meet successfully all work scheduled
against his machine, but developed such skill in the operation of
this machine, that later he compared favorably with the average
good toolmaker, and in six months’ time we depended on him entirely
to set up his own machine and proceed as a regular toolmaker. This
represents intensive training and what was accomplished here can be
accomplished in other general lines of tool room work.
We ultimately had 215 of these trained operators who were able to
carry on the work, supported by 55 good toolmakers. I am with you in
the confidence that it will be necessary to plan quite considerably
in the adoption of some means to overcome a situation which looks
really serious for the future.
(Signed) W. H. EBELHARE,
_General Superintendent, Lincoln Motor Co._