tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post9144920141941511001..comments2024-03-28T20:53:49.167-04:00Comments on The Adventures of Roberta X: Geek HistoryRoberta Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-10989550607838285032008-02-27T16:07:00.000-05:002008-02-27T16:07:00.000-05:00Yeah, and did you see that 1970s-vintage picture o...Yeah, and did you see that 1970s-vintage picture of him in the disco-shirt? And that was quite a 'fro he had back then.<BR/><BR/>(secret word: wuteev)Turk Turonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02648721047835980871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-67717575462402724122008-02-27T07:03:00.000-05:002008-02-27T07:03:00.000-05:00Og, mine was an eBay find. Since most of my (main...Og, mine was an eBay find. Since most of my (mainly vintage electronics) home shop has a 1930s/40s look, just like the gadgets I build and fix in it, I kinda had to. Plus it's a delight to the eye.<BR/><BR/> Turk, I finally had a chance to look up the redoubtable Mr. West -- heck of a guy!Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-81038112253579900052008-02-27T00:03:00.000-05:002008-02-27T00:03:00.000-05:00Never had the cash to justify a Gerstner. Have a k...Never had the cash to justify a Gerstner. Have a kennedy. Still. Made my own 123 blocks, grinding vise, yadda yadda. <BR/><BR/>Now I need to get the stuff together and make my rifling lathe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-9226530822738315552008-02-26T23:11:00.000-05:002008-02-26T23:11:00.000-05:00...H'mmm, I don't know if I should own up to the G......H'mmm, I don't know if I should own up to the Gerstner toolbox in the basement or not....<BR/><BR/> Og, it is a pleasure to meet you. I admired Operation Wild Oats!Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-68356604369684517002008-02-26T22:40:00.000-05:002008-02-26T22:40:00.000-05:00Nice post. I'm amused and pleased to meet a woman ...Nice post. I'm amused and pleased to meet a woman who knows what a bridgeport is. I have a pair of old McCoy oilers around here somewhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-22469746638526178822008-02-24T18:28:00.000-05:002008-02-24T18:28:00.000-05:00"Geeks Grande"? I like that one!"Geeks Grande"? I like that one!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-870427222379942282008-02-24T16:57:00.000-05:002008-02-24T16:57:00.000-05:00good post , Living as i do in farm country where a...good post , Living as i do in farm country where a " home machine shop " is not as rare as it may be elsewhere i see a lot of innovations . Some good , some if not bad at least more effort than they are worth lol . Where and how i grew up a lathe is as much a tool for any well equipped shop as a cutting torch . Many folks never " make " anything tho , they have some kinda old machine in the shop because the green paint on an axle stub alone is 90 bucks and up . If you can " chuck it in and smooth it up " then weld it back on it dont take long to pay for an older lathe . Especially if you work out deals with neighbors who dont have one lol . Point i guess is that in some areas of the country you cant swing a fair sized cat with out whacking some kind of machinist. I should point out that once you learn to square up your machine , and chuck your workpiece square the rest of machining is just patience and practice . If you can cut of an axle stub , turn it smooth , reweld it and have your equipment up and running then you have to ask just how hard is most gunsmithing ?. A tube gun ect is easy and loose by comparison . There is some innovative crap out there now , i have seen some lol built by poo folk with poo ways . There might not be a lot of " higher education " out here in flyover country but both coasts really need to remember that they need us worse than we need them . No matter our plumbing , color , religion , or whom we choose to take to our bed we are likely to be competent with real skills . Innovation is by no means dead today , its just hiding from taxes LOL .Farm.Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02383613366815582389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-74774601897917351782008-02-24T16:27:00.000-05:002008-02-24T16:27:00.000-05:00Thank you! I'm charmed!Thank you! I'm charmed!Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-89113716419996790002008-02-24T16:07:00.000-05:002008-02-24T16:07:00.000-05:00This, ladies and gentleman, is preciselywhy I visi...This, ladies and gentleman, is <I>precisely</I>why I visit this blog. <BR/><BR/>Priceless.Tango Juliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07593296126387219845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-54044089574302485582008-02-24T13:30:00.000-05:002008-02-24T13:30:00.000-05:00I recently discovered that James Edward Maceo West...I recently discovered that James Edward Maceo West (1931 - ) is one of the principal inventors of the electret microphone. Bush gave him a Medal of Technology in 2006.<BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._West_%28inventor%29<BR/><BR/>Then follow the link to his birthplace, Prince Edward County, Virginia and read about the obstacles this guy overcame to get an education:<BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_County%2C_Virginia<BR/><BR/>An ironic lesson that might be taken from the experiences of Mr. West, and others like him, is that it is possible to get a first-class education without the government.Turk Turonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02648721047835980871noreply@blogger.com