Child of machinist/toolmaker

[beartrax]

I've been looking around and noticed many of you referring to having fathers
proceed you as machinists/toolmakers. I got to wondering how may of you are in the business because of that? How many had other relatives in the business? Other reasons?

[beartrax]

To answer my on qusetion, my Father and maternal Granddad owned a tool & die shop. I didn't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. Out of 4 boys, I was the only one to have an aptitude.

[Geof]

I am in the 'other' category. No family members on either side involved in anything close to machining.

I was originally interested in being a Diesel Mechanic so I interviewed for an apprenticeship with a big truck company. I was so put off by the attitude I encountered I took my second choice, machinist apprentice.

[fuzzyracing1967]

Well let me think for a sec,2 grandfathers,my father,4.5 uncles (one was part time),1 brother,4 cousins,1 nephew, I think that about covers it.

May one day count my son he is in collage now.Oh and buy the way it was this or drive truck,that what the rest of the family does.

[MFassler]

my dad and grandfather are machinists too.

[mc-motorsports]

Originally Posted by Geof I am in the 'other' category. No family members on either side involved in anything close to machining. I was originally interested in being a Diesel Mechanic so I interviewed for an apprenticeship with a big truck company. I was so put off by the attitude I encountered I took my second choice, machinist apprentice.

Aren't you glad you became a machinist? Not saying anything bad at all about mechanics or diesel mechanics, another very skilled trade, I was pretty much at that point myself and I chose manufacturing, machinist over mechanic also... No regrets...

MC

[mc-motorsports]

Originally Posted by beartrax I've been looking around and noticed many of you referring to having fathers proceed you as machinists/toolmakers. I got to wondering how may of you are in the business because of that? How many had other relatives in the business? Other reasons?

Yeah... My father is a paper/pencil pusher... But my mother works for me! (part time) Best employee ever too! Requires no supervision, does the packing, taxes, books, workers comp, and can set-up and operate in house production jobs, I LOVE IT! She made her money and retired at age 52, I'm just trying to fallow suit, I have a long way to go. She doesn't need the money, she just wants something to do during the day and I'm not looking forward to the day she retires again...

[ksimmons]

Started working a production job out of the Navy. Hated production work but enjoyed working with steel. I've worked in OEM manufacturing 14 years. Our stuff is 2sie 3sie work.

[mongo46538]

Ole Dad used to run a turret lathe at Depuy. I use to go there after school and wait for him to get off work rather than take the bus. I got to where I liked the sights, sounds and even smells. Old brick shops still intrigue me. Used to read the "Bull of the Woods" cartoon calendars, and the occasional girlie calanders.
Anyone ever heard of "Bull of the Woods"? It was like an editorial cartoon based around industry and engineering?

[p38nut]

My Dad had his own tool and die shop for many years. I grew up with him starting up in an employees garage. When he came back from WWII my mom's dad let them live with them. After 2 weeks of letting Dad "lounge" around the house, my grandpa signed my Dad up for the tool & diemaking apprenticeship program ar Western Electric. My grandpa owned his own shop call Love Machine & Tool in Indianapolis. He then merged it into Merz Engineering with Miklos Sperling, who just happened to enter a car in the Indy 500, I think in 1955. My mom's brother also worked in the industry.

I helped my dad a lot in the shop, but was never as good as he was. He could design hispeed, multistation progression dies in his head. Some of his skills did rub off on me, as I have now built 2 CNC routers.

Thanks. Mike