Stories of apprenticeship

[LarryFine]

i carefully guide it so it misses the box, and let him push
another 4' or so.... and i keep telling him "sounds like you are
almost here..." and i hear him get off the ladder, and i quickly
cut off the wire flush with the end of the pipe with dykes,
and throw it out the window.... and he comes in, and i say
"you're almost here..."

and he goes back and we repeat the process... three times...
he finally thought he was in the wrong pipe, and pulled all the
wire out, and then i put the fish tape in.... and we pulled the
wire....

Except for the wasted wire and time, that's a very funny story.

I would like to point out that he did get the wire there, though.

 

[tallguy]

We used to send the new apprentices out to get the U-lamp bender. Or the really cruel guys would try to set them up with the water in the hickey trick. They always fell for that one. :wink:

That's a new one for me... what is the "water in the hickey" trick?

I love threads likes this... Fulthrotl's story has me giggling like a schoolgirl here...

 

[quogueelectric]

I guess the best way to use my 1000th post is to remember that my first
2-1/2 years in the trade was working for my father as his apprentice.
We had some really good times.
Tools on at 7:00am, never knew about a morning break. Lunch in your work area at 12noon. 12:30 tools back on until 3:15.
It took me a while to figure out why no one from the shop wanted to come out to our job. They said we were machines. No failed inspections, no mistakes!
I didnt know any better, I just got out of the Corps, and he retired out of the 4 Marine ANGLICO, Gold jump wings with 50+ jumps. Never saw anything less than expert shooting badges on his uniform.
He sat for the first State License exam in Florida. His License was #67.
He would get up every morning at 4:45 read the bible for a half hour, then, sit-ups, push-ups, breakfast.
Eggs and beacon Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Cereal Tuesday and Thursday. 6am Bathroom. 6:10 get dressed for work. leave 6:20 to 6:30.
I still hear stories from some of the old timers about him.
Hes been gone several years now, buried in the National Cemetary.
I do miss the ol' Gunny but I think he likes it better where he is now.

This was the best post I have seen since I have been on this site.........God bless him!!

 

[Brady Electric]

Stories of apprenticeship

I agree the post by jrannis is the best I have ever read.
I read this to my wife and she said that's allot like your story isn't it.
I said NO! I had good work ethics after getting out of the Corps but not near that strict.
I was also lucky in that I started after getting out of the Corps in 1972 I was mature and there wasn't much I hadn't seen or had done to me so I didn't fall for those stunts. (But they were tried)
Electrical field has been good to me and stories like these on this post bring back good memories.
Salute to your Father and Semper Fi to all, Buddy

 

[electricalperson]

Yeah, you're right. Everybody should be as great as me someday.

i heard peter is so good as soon as he decided to get into the trade they gave him a masters license. he didnt even need to be an apprentice

 

[peter d]

i heard peter is so good as soon as he decided to get into the trade they gave him a masters license. he didnt even need to be an apprentice

Yup, and I graduated from high school after only one day of classes as well.

 

[iaov]

that could have poked somebodys eye out

It isn't any fun till someone loses an eye! I think thats what my mother said.

 

[iaov]

I teach everyone as much as that want to learn and listen. Hopefully they learn it so I do not have to do the work.

I had the displeasure of working with JW's that were afraid to teach what they knew for fear you might replace them.

When I worked in the paper industry this was a real problem. People guarded what they knew or were realy trying to hide the fact that they didn't know anything.It was a tough enviroment to try to learn in.

 

[wireguru]

Yup, and I graduated from high school after only one day of classes as well.

are you that 'most interesting man in the world' from the beer commercials?

 

[masterinbama]

Coming up in the trade under a very experienced master,he got his JW card in '38 or '39. I got my share of hard knocks. What I love know is when you get the 3rd or 4th year guys that have seen it all.
I had 2 3rd years on a cable pull once that learned a valuable math lesson. We had a 3 over 3 duct bank that was 480' long from the substation to the gear. Each pull was 4 500 MCM's. We had 18,000' of 500 on 1000' reels. We got down to the next to the last pull had 4 reels left on the jacks with a little over 500' on them and 2 full reels in the trailer. I went outside and told them to breakdown 2 of the reels and get the 2 full ones out and set them up. Well they replied in unison and with some very choice language, that that was the dumbest thing they had ever heard. Me and my JW on the project looked at each other and decided that it was time they learned that their foreman was not the dumbest man to ever walk the planet.
After we pulled that run I went outside and both of them said we needed to send the last 2 reels back and get them respooled into 4 500' runs. I said no, you and Mr. knowitall need to start snaking 2 runs out across that field while me and the JW go to lunch. To this day when I run into one of them I ask how hard it is to drag 2 500' runs of 500 MCM.

 

[peter d]

are you that 'most interesting man in the world' from the beer commercials?

Close...just the most interesting man period. No beer commercials required.

 

[jrannis]

I agree the post by jrannis is the best I have ever read.
I read this to my wife and she said that's allot like your story isn't it.
I said NO! I had good work ethics after getting out of the Corps but not near that strict.
I was also lucky in that I started after getting out of the Corps in 1972 I was mature and there wasn't much I hadn't seen or had done to me so I didn't fall for those stunts. (But they were tried)
Electrical field has been good to me and stories like these on this post bring back good memories.
Salute to your Father and Semper Fi to all, Buddy

Thanks Guys,
I dont I could have hung very long with him if I hadnt been through Parris Island. I used to tell him how easy boot camp was because we didnt have to get up as early or had as many chores to do. It was like going to camp I told him.
I did take about ten minutes on day, just after I got my first masters license, and wrote a short half page or so note letting him know that I was thankful that he taught his trade to me and that I was now well able to pick up a hand full of tools and make a living for my family. I told him how I loved him and admired him as a father. I was kinda corny but I just thought it would be nice to do and I ment every word.
I mailed it off in a fathers day card. He called and said thank you for the note. I never really thought about it again
Years later when he died, we were going through his stuff and found the note tucked in his newest bible. It looked like it had been unfolded and refolded a thousand times.
I later found out that he wouldn't miss an opportunity to have someone read that note. That ten minutes of time and half page of words must have really ment something to him.
I know as electricians we cant write very neat due to digging and hitting our hands with a hammer for so many years but, take a few minutes and drop a note to your dad if he was a good guy or someone that might have made a difference in your life. A note in a Thanksgiving Day card might be a nice time to think about doing it.
Semper Fi

 

[rt66electric]

Another newguy story

Another newguy story

I, got a good NEWGUY story--- Electrical maintenace in a factory, grumpy old guy takes new 'electrician's son' to replace a three phase motor.. Gets it all back together and ---sure enough!! --- its running backwards. The old guy apppears to be dumbfounded and sends the newguy to get a cup of coffee..Meanwhile he switches the leads.. The new guy gets back and the old guy looks at the fused disconnect and EXCLAIMS " AHA!!!! the fuses are in upside down " he quickly turns the fuse right side up and flips the switch. Sure enough the motor spins the correct rotation... The newguy was PROUD that he had learn't something "new" and boasted to all of the machine operators. I don't know how the line operators manage to keep a straight face and send him to the next person...

 

[quogueelectric]

One time the hardest assed foreman was on the job with a big crew of other foreman and a new apprentice. He whipped this apprentice all day hard and at lunch he fell asleep in the cafeteria. We all snuck out as to not wake him and he woke up at about 1 pm and had to walk into the tigers cage alone.