Sends A Chill Up My Back!

[thiggy]

I was reading an old (March, 1953) Popular Mechanics Magazine at lunch today and came across an article about a training school for the blind “where the handicapped are taught to use standard woodworking machines”. The article was full of praise for the safety record – no injuries serious enough to require stitches since the state school (Janesville, Wi.) installed its first powered tool, an 8” Delta circular saw in 1928. The two page article was full of photos showing blind students working on various woodworking tools solo. There is a drill press, stationary belt sander, lathe, circular saw and the one which really gave me the shivers, a blind boy running a small piece of wood through a jointer! Can you imagine a school assuming such a liability today??

[germdoc]

Wow--any mistake with the jointer could have a drastic effect on their braille-reading ability!!

[cgallery]

If they use their brains and work thoughtfully, they would probably have a better safety record than power tool users that have eyes but fail to use their brains.

Reminds me of the SNL/Stevie Wonder commercials for the camera.

[LinuxRandal]

Can you imagine a school assuming such a liability today??

I am gonna ask instead of assuming. Did you search to see if the school is still around today?

[LCHIEN]

I am gonna ask instead of assuming. Did you search to see if the school is still around today?

And, what is the status of their graduates?-
working, disabled?

You knw the saying:
There are old woodworkers and there are bold woodworkers but there are no old, bold woodworkers.

maybe the same could be said for blind woodworkers...
There are old woodworkers and blind woodworkers but no old, blind woodworkers.

(but it doesn't have the same ring to it).

[Stormbringer]

I was reading an old (March, 1953) Popular Mechanics Magazine at lunch today and came across an article about a training school for the blind “where the handicapped are taught to use standard woodworking machines”. The article was full of praise for the safety record – no injuries serious enough to require stitches since the state school (Janesville, Wi.) installed its first powered tool, an 8” Delta circular saw in 1928. The two page article was full of photos showing blind students working on various woodworking tools solo. There is a drill press, stationary belt sander, lathe, circular saw and the one which really gave me the shivers, a blind boy running a small piece of wood through a jointer! Can you imagine a school assuming such a liability today??

Thig,

Could you post a scan of that? I no longer have that issue

Thanks,
Greg

[JSCOOK]

Ya that's absolutely CRAZY ... but then again so was mothers holding babies in the front seats of cars during this time as well ... how times have changed!

The thing that came to mind when I was reading this was just how "blind" these people were operating the tools ... I mean you can be "legal blind" and still have some percentage of sight or visibilty ... anyone seen the TV commercial for awareness of this?

[thiggy]

I've never posted any scans, but I'll give it a whirl. It will be tormorrow night, as the magazine is at my office. And no, I have not tried to follow up to see if the school is still in buisiness.