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Nice.. job you love is always a plus..
I'd have loved to see the world on uncle Sam's dime, but sadly it was not in the cards.. Failed the physical for , are you ready for this. Flat feet & Mild (if there can be, think they were just being kind with the mild part lol)Dyslexia . I guess when not in war time that is a thing, I always wondered if it was 5/9 years later when desert storm was going on if I'd failed for that..
During WWII flat feet was a little known reason for failing the draft physical. At the beginning of the war, and shortly after the draft started, a special interest group in which flat feet was prevalent pushed to have flat feet added to the list of medical conditions that denied induction into any of the military branches. When the exclusion was learned by those who lost or had family members in combat overseas there was an uproar, but it was at the end of the war and the draft was being decommissioned.
I've done most every manual labor job you can think of. Gas Station Pump Jockey in High School, Summer Construction jobs, Garbage Collector, Line Mechanic in GM and Dodge Dealerships, Built Houses, Swimming Pools, then Yachts in Florida, ( Forgot Sign building and repair). Then took to the Oceans as Commercial Fisherman and then Captain of my own Fishing Boats. Came back to land and have been Self-Employed Fixing the Yachts of the Rich But Not So Famous for 30 yrs. now. Slowing down on the boats, have completed a 67 442 Hard-top, working on a 68 SS El Camino, with another 67 442 Convertible for the wife waiting. This journey started after winning the Draft Lottery in 1969,my number was in the early 300's, didn't have to go but both of my brothers did. Hopefully I'll get all my projects done, and have time for a 55 chevy like the ones I had in High School!
This journey started after winning the Draft Lottery in 1969,my number was in the early 300's, didn't have to go but both of my brothers did. Hopefully I'll get all my projects done, and have time for a 55 chevy like the ones I had in High School!
My lottery number was 348 , however I had already enlisted in the USAF .
In my early years I had three '55 Chevys , Two '57 Chevys , and a '56 Vette .
sure wish I had even one of them now . I don't think I'm ever going to have enough money to even buy a " barn find " now .
I hear the PE test is the hardest test you'll ever take as an engineer. I can't do it since I can't get the recommendations and work under the PE in my current field. I kind of wish I could, I really should spend a year relearning all my courses; forgotten so much.
It took me about 6 months of review when I was only out of school for 5 years. I can't imagine taking it again. I'm licensed in CT & MA but currently work in NY. NY is giving me a really hard time about obtaining reciprocity. They want proof from back in 1986-1993 that I performed design work. When I first sat for the test CT didn't require examples of work performed to sit for the test so I basically have nothing. The design work that I did during that period was all construction related and apparently the primadonna Engineers in NY don't think that construction is an Engineering field.
FWIW I don't use my stamp anyway. For liability reasons I draw up all my plans and procedures and then send everything out for third party design review. They perform most of the hardcore calcs, I just engineer all the pick weights and crane positioning.
Last edited by allyolds68; Feb 9, 2018 at 04:58 AM.
I have been in aircraft maintenance since I got out of A&P Mechanic school in 1979 (aircraft mechanic school). Worked on aircraft the whole time, never laid-off in 39 years and only my 4th job- been lucky.
Now I am Chief Inspector at an FAA certificated repair station for the last 10+ years.
We work on fixed wing turbojet, turboprop, turbine helicopters. Great job, lots of responsibility as the final say in all things.
Bought my 442 to work on, enjoy and not have to worry about other peoples workmanship- it is all on me and no FAA or customer to question me!
I started out in the Navy just out of high school. Got hired by Lockheed Martin at Bangor Sub base building Polaris and Trident Ballistic Missiles, for 18 years, Had my on business on the side (week end warrior) doing construction. After being laid off went to work for Boeing Aircraft as an inspector, that only lasted for 3 years and offered me a free ride to get my Civil Engineering degree. Now working for the Corps of Engineers as a Construction Quality Assurance Construction Inspector. Planning on retiring in the next 5 years.
Its been quite a ride, just need to finish my 72 so I can enjoy that for the rest of the journey.
I hear the PE test is the hardest test you'll ever take as an engineer. I can't do it since I can't get the recommendations and work under the PE in my current field. I kind of wish I could, I really should spend a year relearning all my courses; forgotten so much.
It was pretty tough, but I think some people overhype it. Any 8 hour test is going to suck. If you generally know the material and can find it in the references you bring, you'll be alright. It's been 7 years, so I should probably go back and try to take a practice test so I can see how little I remember...
Started out working for my Dad in 1982 as a Tool & Die apprentice. Left in 1984 because I was a stupid spoiled teenager. Went to work at another Tool & Die shop but left their after 6 months.
I realised quickly how good I had it with my Dad. I smartened up, made it to work on time each day and worked just as hard as my Father and other employees.
My Dad passed away in 2001 (Heavy smoker- Lung cancer @ 57 years young)
I was very fortunate , in the last few years alive he really showed me how the business was run, how to quote, design and run the shop.
My Mom stayed on with the company until 2007 training my wife to take over payroll etc etc.
We now have my 18 year old son with us, a mirror image of myself haha! Late to work, takes time off sick ( Hung-over) and still wants the same salary.
I just recently took the car away from him that he can't keep tires on the thing with gas and take out bills almost the same as his wage lol.
A reality check is soon in order!
We still have an employee in his late 60's that helped my DAD build the business, I promised my DAD when he was too sick to come to the shop, I would keep that employee for as long as he wanted to stay.
Even thou he falls asleep watching the CNC machine, on the stool at the drill press lol, I appreciate everything he has done in the past. I continue to pay him a good salary regardless of what he produces.
I really enjoy the trade, Tool & Die making, manual machining, and CNC was in the blood ! I thank my DAD so often even thou he's not with me.
It was really tough between the years or 2009-2015 but we seemed to keep the doors open and the lights on.
Often not having much work for 3-4 month stretches.
The wife and I would like to retire at 55 and hand things over to our kids, but that's a dream at this point.
I spent 31 years working at mechanical jobs for a large county government. Started as a helper in a garage working on everything from police cars to equipment.
Every time I maxed out in one type of mechanical job, I transferred to another for more money.
My most interesting was working as a mechanic at a 50 year old sewage treatment plant, keeping it running while a multi million dollar new plant was built around it. Studying design contracts and prints, submitting CCRs to make it more reliable, maintenance friendly and saving costs. Working with a contract field engineer that was willing to listen and teach was great experience. I also wrote the first PM program for the plant and set up a new maintenance shop.
Once it was running I lost interest, and being maxxed out again, I got a job maintaining stand by generators. That I enjoyed, working alone most days on equipment spread out throughout the county. That was my favorite position.
Then I took the job I disliked the most and was likely the worst at, Mechanical Superintendent.
Five years later, I retired. (10 years ago)
Good thread.
Many moons ago...Uncle Sam...Airforce, Power Production Specialist (Generators) electrical, mechanical, civil engineering. Base Engineer Emergency Force(AKA Prime Beef). SR-71, U-2 and flight line aircraft arresting barrier support for the SR. Had a back door to the shop that kept the pony engines fresh that started the SRs Pratt & Whitney J58 engines. Want a plane...errr rather a rocket with wings! Loved watching it take off at night. The pony cart was adorned with twin 455 Buicks. Nothing like twin Bufords open exhaust winding up to WOT firing up the J58s. Strangely several of our cars had rather potent 455s in them. From there I went into civilian life as a generator tech. All sizes up to 20 thousand, yes thousand, cubic inch natural gas Waukesha engines with a few White Superior and Fairbanks Morse engines, neither tiny. Then on to GM Delphi working on the Hydrogen Fuel cell R&D program. Then into FDA medical device R&D, validation, and regulatory engineering. Olds fan ever since dad brought home a maroon 66 deluxe Toro in 1969 (he traded in a 65 Impala vert!!!) and a string of Cutlasses growing up until I brought home a 68 442 after leaving the AF. We also have an affection for C1,2 and particularly early C3 Corvettes and are active in the NCRS(National Corvette Restorers Society) arena as well. Next, who knows. One more Olds or Vette to restore then retirement to a warm dry climate full of muscle car junkyards and scantily clad women serving dirty martinis at 10 am.
Started out working for my Dad in 1982 as a Tool & Die apprentice. Left in 1984 because I was a stupid spoiled teenager. Went to work at another Tool & Die shop but left their after 6 months.
I realised quickly how good I had it with my Dad. I smartened up, made it to work on time each day and worked just as hard as my Father and other employees.
My Dad passed away in 2001 (Heavy smoker- Lung cancer @ 57 years young)
I was very fortunate , in the last few years alive he really showed me how the business was run, how to quote, design and run the shop.
My Mom stayed on with the company until 2007 training my wife to take over payroll etc etc.
We now have my 18 year old son with us, a mirror image of myself haha! Late to work, takes time off sick ( Hung-over) and still wants the same salary.
I just recently took the car away from him that he can't keep tires on the thing with gas and take out bills almost the same as his wage lol.
A reality check is soon in order!
We still have an employee in his late 60's that helped my DAD build the business, I promised my DAD when he was too sick to come to the shop, I would keep that employee for as long as he wanted to stay.
Even thou he falls asleep watching the CNC machine, on the stool at the drill press lol, I appreciate everything he has done in the past. I continue to pay him a good salary regardless of what he produces.
I really enjoy the trade, Tool & Die making, manual machining, and CNC was in the blood ! I thank my DAD so often even thou he's not with me.
It was really tough between the years or 2009-2015 but we seemed to keep the doors open and the lights on.
Often not having much work for 3-4 month stretches.
The wife and I would like to retire at 55 and hand things over to our kids, but that's a dream at this point.
What Tool & Die shop? My dad was a Tool & Die maker at Timex Tooling and Honeywell over in Scarborough from 1966 until 1994. He went to the tool room at the age of 15 over in Glasgow. I was to apprentice under him IF my post secondary schooling had not panned out.
