Something Wonderful: Fabricator

Henry Rearden seen nodding in approval.

Posted by M*A at December 29, 2010 4:38 AM

I love the tradesman. My husband is a house painter. His father had been a house painter. I asked him once how far back the family trade went, and he had no idea. His grandfather had been a painter, too. He will be the last painter in his line. His daughters are not into it. They paint on canvasses and paper, only.

Posted by Jewel at December 29, 2010 7:33 AM

Twenty years ago I left the corporate/academic worlds to teach myself the brightwork trade - refinishing wood on boats. Only after I made the move did I learn my maternal grandfather had made a living refinishing wood trim in homes with my mother at his side as a helper.

Most of the tradeswomen and tradesmen I know wouldn't trade their trade for anything. I certainly wouldn't.

Posted by shoreacres at December 29, 2010 10:20 AM

something wonderful indeed.

Posted by pdwalker at December 29, 2010 10:22 PM

That was indeed wonderful! A few years ago the space in which I work was undergoing a heating/cooling re-do involving ductwork, machinery, carpentry, etc. Everyone else in the lab found other workspace, but I stayed (armed with earbuds for music). I loved watching those guys work--just really wonderful seeing how they performed that labor--very skilled and economical. They appeared to enjoy their work as well. I felt guilty just sitting on my ass in front of a computer!

Posted by Dinah at January 1, 2011 1:29 PM

As a boy and the son of a custom furniture maker, I have spent many a day in shops just like the one in this video. Now, I spend my days managing people and projects for a company with 45,000 employees. There's not a day goes by but what I think how wasted life is without creating something ... a legacy. Some years ago, I moved to the country and turned an old farmstead into a new one. Andy, instead of buying kitchen cabinets, I bought machinery and wood. I won't get rich, but I'm happy and my kids know the taste and joy of creating.

What political folks don't realize is that this video holds the secret to the engine of growth in America. We now think that everything must be centrally planned and executed by some institution. A hundred years ago, we had lots of young folks just itching to start a shop like the one in this video. It could be the same again, except we have to get rid of all that disenstivizes (?) young folks. Sure, not every kid wants to do it ... but you don't need every kid to do it, just a few.

Posted by Edaddy at January 17, 2011 4:16 PM