Kids making lathes

[Mike K]

Did they have kids producing these basic lathes at technical schools here during WW2 ? . The cast logo is the Victorian Tech school logo

It is for sale on Gumtree

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/hemma...ne-/1105935112

[maple_leaf_eh]

The trainees were supporting the war effort. There is much to be learnt from making tools. I suppose the school itself had a significant workshop to be able to cast, turn and machine all the parts necessary.

[David Dunlop]

Two possibilities come to mind, Mike: full production, or perhaps some parts and final assembly.

I have read of schools throughout England during the war being involved with wartime parts production in various forms. The pilot's seat for the Spitfire and/or Hurricane comes to mind as one example.

As Terry says, the layout of the shop probably determined what could be accomplished. If you have a technical school in your area that was around during the war, it might be worthwhile popping in one day and asking if they were involved at all with the war effort. You might get an interesting surprise.


David

[motto]

I went to the Footscray Technical College in the early 60s and they had two excellent machine shops, moulding shop (casting in aluminium),welding shop, sheet metal shop and carpenters shops. I never heard of any participation in the war effort but that was 20 years previous and I don't know what capability there would have been at that time.
What I do know is that it is all gone now along with so many other technical schools and their facilities. Apparently it was decided at some point that we no longer needed skilled tradesmen.

David

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by motto

I went to the Footscray Technical College in the early 60s and they had two excellent machine shops, moulding shop (casting in aluminium),welding shop, sheet metal shop and carpenters shops. I never heard of any participation in the war effort but that was 20 years previous and I don't know what capability there would have been at that time.
What I do know is that it is all gone now along with so many other technical schools and their facilities. Apparently it was decided at some point that we no longer needed skilled tradesmen.

David

Your school history ........... a bunch of misfits


http://www.vucentenary.com.au/our-story

[motto]

You're absolutely right Mike, I certainly wouldn't fit in there at all. it's way too academic now.
When I was attending FTC, Footscray and Maribyrnong were still heavily industrialised. The ordnance and ammunition factories were still substantial entities and you could often hear the machine guns test firing a mile or so away.
One of the highlights was a visit to the ammunition factory where we were strictly forbidden to take any samples but all walked out with jangling pockets. It's no wonder they wouldn't let us near the filling room or the live ammo.
Apologies for hijacking your thread, it jogged some memories.
Dave
The Misfit