prepared to do his bit, their materials being delivered at convenient points by chutes. As the tops pass by these men quickly bolt them into place, and the completed body is sent to a place where it awaits the chassis. This important section, comprising all the machinery, starts at one end of a moving platform as a front and rear axle bolted together with the frame. As this slowly advances, it passes under a bridge containing a gasoline tank, which is quickly adjusted. Farther on the motor is swung into position on the frame. Presently the dash slides down and is placed in position behind the motor. As the rapidly accumulating mechanism passes on, different workmen adjust the mufflers, exhaust pipes, the radiator, and the wheels, which, as already indicated, arrive on the scene completely tired. Then a workman seats himself on the gasoline tank, which contains a small quantity of fuel, starts the engine, and the machine moves out the door under its own power. It stops for a moment outside; the completed body drops down from the second floor, and a few bolts quickly put it in place. The workman drives the now finished Ford to a loading platform, it is stored away in a box car, and is started on its way to market. CLASS ACTIVITIES 1. Explain and illustrate standardization in industry. How does standardization affect the cost of an article? 2. Describe the English manufacturer's experiment with American cars. Why did the author include the incident in the selection? 3. What was Ford's main aim in making automobiles? Why did other manufacturers laugh at his idea? 4. Did Ford invent or discover standardization? If not, what was his contribution to American industry? 5. Describe how cars are assembled in a Ford plant. 6. What plan did the author follow in writing this selection, “the linkand-chain" plan, the "hand" plan, or some other? Explain with a diagram, giving a name or title to each part of your drawing. 7. Give, if possible, an example of standardization of industry in your own community. 8. Special report for a volunteer: How the automobile has changed human life. (See B. J. Hendrick, Age of Big Business, 170-188; or "The Social Influence of the Automobile," A. D. Albert, in Scribner's Magazine, 71:685–688.) CLASS-LIBRARY READINGS MAKING THINGS I. "The Man Who Cheapened Tacks," Vocational Reader, 152-157. 2. "The Housewife Who Built a Telescope," ibid., 181–186. 3. "Women and Craftsmanship," M. B. Eson-Kohler, in Opportunities of Today for Boys and Girls, 227-230. 4. "The Making of a Basket," K. T. Fogarty, in The Joy in Work, 159166. 5. "The Story in a Watch," Wonder Book of Knowledge, 61-72. 6. "The Story of America's Horseless Carriage,” ibid., 290–291. 7. "The Story in the Making of a Pair of Shoes,” ibid., 436–448. 8. "The Story of an Automobile Factory," ibid., 518–539. 9. "The Automobile and How It Works," Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia, 1: 274-287. 10. "Robinson Crusoe in Fact and Fiction,” ibid., 3: 933-934. II. "The Miracles of Iron and Steel," ibid., 5:1815-1826; Book of Knowl edge, 2: 617-624. 12. "The Marvel of Matches and How They Are Made," Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia, 5: 2170-2174; Book of Knowledge, 3: 773-780. 13. "The Steeple-Climber," Careers of Danger and Daring, 3–39. 14. "The Dynamite Worker," ibid., 348-376. 15. "The Story of the Automobile," World Book, 1:512–518. 16. "The Match," Stories of Useful Inventions, 3-12. 17. "The Clock," ibid., 211-226. 18. "Making Iron and Steel," Book of Knowledge, 18: 5537-5556. 19. “American Inventors and Inventions," ibid., 9: 2667–2670. Read twice the five following poems about work and workers; then write their titles on a slip of paper, putting the one you like best first, the one you like next best second, and so on. Be prepared to give reasons for your preference. 1. THE MUSIC OF LABOR ANONYMOUS The banging of the hammer, The grating of the drill, The clattering of the turning lathe, The rattling of the loom, The puffing of the engine, The fan's continual boom, The clipping of the tailor's shears, 2. WORK GANGS CARL SANDBURG Hammers and shovels of work gangs sleep in shop corners When the dark stars come on the sky and the night watchmen walk and look. Then the hammer heads talk to the handles, then the scoops of the shovels talk, how the day's work nicked and trimmed them, how they swung and lifted all day, how the hands of the work gangs smelled of hope. In the night of the dark stars when the curve of the sky is a work gang handle, in the night on the mile long sidetracks, in the night where the hammers and shovels sleep in corners, the night watchmen stuff their pipes with dreams and sometimes they doze and don't care for nothin' and sometimes they search their heads for meanings, stories, stars. The stuff of it runs like this: A long way we come; a long way we go; long rests and long deep sniffs for our lungs on the way. Sleep is a belonging of all; even if all songs are old songs and the singing heart is snuffed out like a switchman's lantern with the oil gone; even if we forget our names and houses in the finish, the secret of sleep is left us; sleep belongs to all; sleep is the first and last and best of all. People singing; people with song mouths connecting with song hearts; people who must sing or die; people whose song hearts break if there is no song mouth; these are my people. |