Lost knowldge

Coloken · Dec 10, 2011

The passing of T-bone leaves me sad. the amount of knowledge that that man had was unbelievable. It makes me wonder about a lot of others here with facts and figures that are better than a room full of reference books. So sad when we loose any of them.
82 year old KennyP
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DeltaRed · Dec 10, 2011

Each time an older person passes,an entire library of knowledge is lost.

old · Dec 10, 2011

Yes at least with some people if a person could down load what they knew many things could/would be saved but with other people you would have a lot of stuff that did not good to any body. My name/handle here comes form the fact I learned most of what I try to pass on here from people that are long since gone and 6 foot under. I would say more but better not since it would not help any body to do so and I pretty much believe in posting things to help not to hurt or be of no value

Billy Shafer · Dec 10, 2011

Not bragging on myself. But guys like me and I am sure there are others. Such as T-Bone. Have knowledge that will be lost when we go. Because there is no one to replace us. I recieve calls all the time. From Generator techs on how to fix and old generator. Things they should know.

When I first started out. My fater taught me what to do. I was ten years old and rebuilding engines and doing brake jobs. Then I was passed around to other farmers and people with skills. To learn what they could teach me. Got kicked by my first horse at twelve. Trying to put shoes on it. Quit that job real quick.

Seems like the kids of today. Have no intrest in doing anything. But playing video games and only doing. What some machine tells them to do. No desire to learn more than they need to.

rrlund · Dec 10, 2011

"Seems like the kids of today. Have no intrest in doing anything. But playing video games and only doing. What some machine tells them to do. No desire to learn more than they need to."

Maybe the majority,but there are still exceptions. Not bragging,well,maybe I am a little,but my oldest son went to auto/diesel school and took the high perfofmance classes. I've had many an old dirt track racer around here tell me they've learned more from him in just a few seasons than they did in a lifetime of personal experience. I know he does things with my stuff that just amazes me. Things where I wouldn't even know where to start. The younger boy is the same way with construction,electrical and plumbing. He works in machining now in a factory,but worked construction for a few years. Any time I want to know how to do it right,all I have to do is ask him.

rrlund · Dec 10, 2011

That's sad to hear. I know there's a particular person on the Oliver board who can answer most anything,and I sure hope everybody over there apreciates him. When he goes,the whole forum might as well shut down as far as real technical questions.

Rusty wheel · Dec 10, 2011

The kids of today need an adult to stimulate their interest just like former generations. Problem is too many parents use the computer for a baby sitter. Thus, the kids are worse off for it.

Ellis Kinney · Dec 10, 2011

Everytime an older person passes away, some obscure piece of knowledge unknown to anyone else passes with him. Ellis

Gun guru · Dec 10, 2011

Yep but look at the other side of the coin every child that is born learns a bunch of video games.

I do agree that every skilled guy that dies and his knowledge is not passed down to his son or best buddy is lost. Look at all the guys from the old days that would hollow out a tree and make a boat, furniture makers, custom metal workers, seamstresses that would make clothes and draperies, and of course farmers that sell out their land and dont pass down any info. And all of them are spread out very thin, I dont know any seamstresses or furniture makers. (other than Norm Abrams)

Zachary Hoyt · Dec 10, 2011

It is sad, for sure. As General Charles De Gaulle (I hope I spelled that right) said "The graveyards are full of indispensable men". And women too, of course.
Zach

NCWayne · Dec 10, 2011

Had a good friend that was in his seventies that passed away about 3 years ago and fits the bill when it came to being a "go to guy". He had worked on race cars for a big outfit back when NASCAR was in it's infancy, worked for alot of yearts for himself on heavy trucks, was all but a founding member of the AWS and could weld anything that could be welded, as well as one of the kost knowledgable machinist I've ever met. basically if it could be done, Freddy could do it...and if he couldn't he knew someone who could.

By the same token pretty mcuh everyone who knows me would tell you the same things about me that I say about Freddy. Thing is I know I don't know everything and am never afraid to ask a question to learn something new, even if it makes me look 'stupid' for asking. Over the years I've come to the realization that that one quality is a very essential part of being a "go to guy". I think nowdays the problem with many is they think they DO know it all and are afraid to ask a question for fear of being thought to be 'stupid'........as a result they are 'stupid' if for no other reason than they are afraid to ask the questions that the 'go to guys' aren't ........

wisbaker · Dec 10, 2011

I never knew my Grandfather, from what my dad and uncles tell me he was one of those individuals that had a lot of knowledge and did a lot of things, he died at the age of 45. We don't have people like him any more partially because it is not econimically feasible to fix so many things any more, everything is throw away. Someone gave me an old Bolens snow blower, after the carb kit, points, condenser, spark plug, recoil and tires I could of bought one that runs, wasn't much wrong with it but it really wasn't worth fixing.

NCWayne · Dec 10, 2011

The problem there is that people let stuff sit and just go to he!!, or run it til it drops. In either case to the machine gets to the point that it takes a carb kit, plugs, points, tires, etc, etc just to get it to the point of being usable again. If the old thing had been maintained properly then it would have needed points 10 years ago, a carb kit 5 years ago, tires a year ago, plugs today, etc. I exagerate on the time's a bit, but you get the point. Basically though the expense is spread out over a period of time and doesn't appear to be that great given the time frame involved and the use gotten out of the machine over that period of time.

The difference in that machine and the majority of machines made nowdays is that the older machine will be around long enough to need points, tires, recoil rope, etc, etc. On the other hand many new machines are designed to be thrown away and replaced before it needs anything in the form of maintenance. Granted there are still quality products being made and designed to be able to maintain, but they are getting few and far between.

Billy Shafer · Dec 10, 2011

You have a rare son. Be proud of him.

Paul from MI · Dec 10, 2011

I have had the advantage of a bunch of older extremely smart guys as mentors. I have BSME and they had 8th grade educations and they taught me most what I used over the next 45 years of designing and building special machines. I was one fortunate guy to have them to learn from. But you have to figure out that all the knowledge is not in a book or computer. I like to think that I kept their knowledge going for another generation, but ownership and management had changed by the time I retired and there was no one left to pass it on to. Kind of a shame.

GaryinKs · Dec 10, 2011

We have lost alot of WW2 Vets in 2011.We have lost alot of blacksmiths, only a few left around here, Lost some of the old tractor mechanics and tractor operators, most of the original John Deere 2 cylinder mechanics are retired or have died,the furniture builders and cabinet makers are few and far between anymore.

Grampa Nelson not so old · Dec 10, 2011

I raised my son to learn what I know and be better at it.. so far he has done so. now i am a grampa prouder than ever. wow I have been reading YT for years and now I want to be a part of it .... do you mind guys?? how about larry @ stinescorner, i enjoy your stuff take care

Coloken · Dec 11, 2011

As a final blow to this thread...
Any of you a good enough blacksmith to make a forge weld? I never could.
Any one able to pick up a rock and make an arrow head? Now that knowledge was lost for a while but I think it has been resurrected.
My whole point is that this is the way of the world. Some sad things, but enjoy it as it goes by
KennyP

WJD · Dec 11, 2011

We have lost a lot of them in the last year or so. Two that come to mind are J.R. Hobbs, he knew more about Two Cylinder tractors and their history than anybody I ever met.
Another was Harold Brock, originally Henry Ford's understudy, he joined John Deere in 1959 and developed the 4020 transmission. Harold remained active well into his 90's assisting a local technical school.

Lost knowldge

Coloken

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DeltaRed

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old

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Billy Shafer

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rrlund

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rrlund

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Rusty wheel

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Ellis Kinney

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Gun guru

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Zachary Hoyt

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NCWayne

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wisbaker

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NCWayne

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Billy Shafer

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Paul from MI

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GaryinKs

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Grampa Nelson not so old

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Coloken

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WJD

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