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OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

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wayne burdick

OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

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OK, I've really dated myself now.

Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints, mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering, projections and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real, but looked like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide rule, if necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.

45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing them in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished products before they're even assembled.

The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was then, is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea forward. The feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into place out of sheer necessity.

Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining moments happened just as often in simpler times.

Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of 4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve my odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.

I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong, I'd taken my time and done it right.

I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.

Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning abstractions into reality.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Mike Morrow-3

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

I learned draftmanship in high school indusrial arts beginning in 1966. I was good enough ar it that I was asked in my senior year to do detailed construction drawings for the annual project of the machine shop, even though I had transferred to a so-called college preparatory curriculum a couple of years earlier. In actuality those high school drafting skills prepared me completely for the year of drafting courses that was mandatory at Geogia Tech in 1970. I'd finish a lab drafting session in less than 45 minutes while my buddies needed the full three hours. In those pre-calculator pre-computer days the only tools that an undergrad student needed were a good slide rule (mine cost $36 in 1969, about $260 today) and a drafting set. To use the Univac 1108 campus scientific mainframe for Fortran IV programs, we submitted hollerith cards we punched using IBM 026 and 029 card punches.

I scraped and saved my summertime active duty pay to buy a Bomar 901 four-function calculator in 1972 for $150, about $950 today. Hewlett-Packard had introduced their milestone HP-35 scientific calculator that year for $400, about $2535 today. Extremely few students could afford that.

What a wonder something like a KX2 would have been. I had a station I made from a 1950s Multi-Elmac AF-67 mobile AM/CW transmitter and a surplus ARR-15 receiver to get on 6970 kHz CW nets in the Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System, using a random wire antenna and a radiator ground. Boy, could I tear up nearby stereos on several floors of Smith Dormitory.

Those really were the good ol' days...just barely a mere 50 years ago. :-)

Mike / KK5F

-----Original Message-----

>From: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Apr 24, 2021 12:08 AM
>
> OK, I've really dated myself now.
>
> Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school:
> blueprints, mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges,
> hand lettering, projections and elevations.
>
> Wayne
> N6KR

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Joe K2UF

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

In 1955 we were the cool guys with a slide rule in a leather case hanging
from your belt and india ink stains on your hands.

73 Joe K2UF

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2021 1:09 AM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

OK, I've really dated myself now.

Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints,
mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering, projections
and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real, but looked
like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide rule, if
necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.

45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling
circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing them
in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished products
before they're even assembled.

The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was then,
is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea forward. The
feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into place out of
sheer necessity.

Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in
the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining
moments happened just as often in simpler times.

Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's
Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of
4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a
lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in
making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve my
odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist
pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.

I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern
battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong,
I'd taken my time and done it right.

I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.

Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning abstractions
into reality.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

I took the classes but was never considered “COOL”....... mostly a “NERD”. Print shop too, but I knew I was going to college so they didn’t send me to the manual arts school down by the river. Still a “NERD” but happily so since 1960 and before really. I still break things so I can fix them.

Wayne, Bless you, building a mountaineer. I didn’t have the courage back then. But I made it through medical school. My wife of 48 years thought I was “COOL” then but I think she might have changed her mind since then. Right after we were married I built an HW7 that went beep, beep, beep in the night. It’s been downhill since then.

Dave K8WPE

David J. Wilcox’s iPad

> On Apr 24, 2021, at 4:02 AM, Joe K2UF <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> In 1955 we were the cool guys with a slide rule in a leather case hanging
> from your belt and india ink stains on your hands.
>
> 73 Joe K2UF
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
> Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2021 1:09 AM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] OT: High school drafting class, ~1975
>
> OK, I've really dated myself now.
>
> Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints,
> mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering, projections
> and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real, but looked
> like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide rule, if
> necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.
>
> 45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling
> circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing them
> in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished products
> before they're even assembled.
>
> The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was then,
> is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea forward. The
> feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into place out of
> sheer necessity.
>
> Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in
> the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining
> moments happened just as often in simpler times.
>
> Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's
> Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of
> 4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a
> lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in
> making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve my
> odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist
> pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.
>
> I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern
> battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong,
> I'd taken my time and done it right.
>
> I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.
>
> Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning abstractions
> into reality.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message
> delivered to [hidden email]
>
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>
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Doug Turnbull

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

Wayne, Dave and all, Thank you for these stories and memories. I fear you might get too many replies to these reminisces and Eric may need tell us to desist.73 Doug EI2CNSent from my Galaxy
-------- Original message --------From: David Wilcox via Elecraft <[hidden email]> Date: 24/04/2021 11:20 (GMT+00:00) To: Joe K2UF <[hidden email]> Cc: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: High school drafting class, ~1975 I took the classes but was never considered “COOL”....... mostly a “NERD”. Print shop too, but I knew I was going to college so they didn’t send me to the manual arts school down by the river. Still a “NERD” but happily so since 1960 and before really. I still break things so I can fix them.Wayne, Bless you, building a mountaineer. I didn’t have the courage back then. But I made it through medical school. My wife of 48 years thought I was “COOL” then but I think she might have changed her mind since then. Right after we were married I built an HW7 that went beep, beep, beep in the night. It’s been downhill since then.Dave K8WPEDavid J. Wilcox’s iPad> On Apr 24, 2021, at 4:02 AM, Joe K2UF <[hidden email]> wrote:> > In 1955 we were the cool guys with a slide rule in a leather case hanging> from your belt and india ink stains on your hands.> > 73 Joe K2UF > > -----Original Message-----> From: [hidden email]> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick> Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2021 1:09 AM> To: Elecraft Reflector> Subject: [Elecraft] OT: High school drafting class, ~1975> > OK, I've really dated myself now. > > Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints,> mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering, projections> and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real, but looked> like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide rule, if> necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.> > 45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling> circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing them> in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished products> before they're even assembled.> > The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was then,> is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea forward. The> feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into place out of> sheer necessity. > > Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in> the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining> moments happened just as often in simpler times.> > Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's> Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of> 4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a> lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in> making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve my> odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist> pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons. > > I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern> battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong,> I'd taken my time and done it right. > > I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.> > Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning abstractions> into reality.> > 73,> Wayne> N6KR> > ______________________________________________________________> Elecraft mailing list> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> Post: mailto:[hidden email]> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message> delivered to [hidden email] > > ______________________________________________________________> Elecraft mailing list> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> Post: mailto:[hidden email]> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________Elecraft mailing listHome: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:[hidden email] list hosted by: http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.htmlMessage delivered to [hidden email]
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Dave Sublette-2

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

My relationship with drafting class goes back to before I was born. My
Dad, born in 1918, took drafting class in 1936. After he died, I found a
pen and ink drawing of his from that class. It was a schematic of two
different crystal sets. As a teen, Dad was the neighborhood radio
technician. He strung wire antennas and repaired headphones for folks.

I had that schematic framed and built one of the sets. I entered it in the
antiques section of the county fair(with a note that the radio was not the
antique). I won a Blue Ribbon and was considered for the grand champion
ribbon. I have the drawing and the set on my mantle.

At almost 80 years of age, my memories are increasing in value.

73,

Dave, K4TO

On Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 4:00 AM Joe K2UF <[hidden email]> wrote:

> In 1955 we were the cool guys with a slide rule in a leather case hanging
> from your belt and india ink stains on your hands.
>
> 73 Joe K2UF
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
> Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2021 1:09 AM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] OT: High school drafting class, ~1975
>
> OK, I've really dated myself now.
>
> Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints,
> mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering,
> projections
> and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real, but looked
> like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide rule, if
> necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.
>
> 45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling
> circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing
> them
> in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished products
> before they're even assembled.
>
> The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was then,
> is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea forward.
> The
> feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into place out of
> sheer necessity.
>
> Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in
> the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining
> moments happened just as often in simpler times.
>
> Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's
> Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of
> 4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a
> lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in
> making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve
> my
> odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist
> pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.
>
> I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern
> battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong,
> I'd taken my time and done it right.
>
> I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.
>
> Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning abstractions
> into reality.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message
> delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Elecraft mailing list

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In the UK it was called “Technical Drawing” and was a compulsory pre-cursor to being allowed to take metalwork. You had to be able to convert between various projections and 3D representations before they let you loose on real metal in the workshops. Funnily enough, I seem to remember that woodwork and electronics were not included; but slide rules, “log tables”, and paper and pencil were the calculators of the age.

Regards
Andy, G8TQH

>
> On Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 4:00 AM Joe K2UF <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> In 1955 we were the cool guys with a slide rule in a leather case hanging
>> from your belt and india ink stains on your hands.
>>
>> 73 Joe K2UF
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [hidden email]
>> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
>> Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2021 1:09 AM
>> To: Elecraft Reflector
>> Subject: [Elecraft] OT: High school drafting class, ~1975
>>
>> OK, I've really dated myself now.
>>
>> Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints,
>> mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering,
>> projections
>> and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real, but looked
>> like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide rule, if
>> necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.
>>
>> 45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling
>> circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing
>> them
>> in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished products
>> before they're even assembled.
>>
>> The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was then,
>> is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea forward.
>> The
>> feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into place out of
>> sheer necessity.
>>
>> Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in
>> the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining
>> moments happened just as often in simpler times.
>>
>> Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's
>> Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of
>> 4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a
>> lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in
>> making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve
>> my
>> odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist
>> pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.
>>
>> I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern
>> battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong,
>> I'd taken my time and done it right.
>>
>> I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.
>>
>> Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning abstractions
>> into reality.
>>
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>

Barry

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

High school in 1975? You're just a kid in ham circles, Wayne :-)

Barry W2UP (HS class of '74)

--
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AI4NS

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

I recently broke out my Dietzgen Stellar drafting set. Using it to layout
features for my steam engine project.

On Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 00:11 Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> OK, I've really dated myself now.
>
> Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints,
> mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering,
> projections and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real,
> but looked like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide
> rule, if necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.
>
> 45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling
> circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing
> them in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished
> products before they're even assembled.
>
> The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was
> then, is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea
> forward. The feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into
> place out of sheer necessity.
>
> Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in
> the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining
> moments happened just as often in simpler times.
>
> Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's
> Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of
> 4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a
> lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in
> making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve
> my odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist
> pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.
>
> I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern
> battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong,
> I'd taken my time and done it right.
>
> I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.
>
> Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning
> abstractions into reality.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

len

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Morning Wayne,

As a variation of a theme I understand exactly what you are saying
about tools. At nearly the same time during the end of my my Junior days
and High School I designed my first computer using the freshly minted Intel
8008. My only tools were an Eico 460, an Ohm meter, a LED, and my mind.
Back in those days there were very few technical resources that a teenager
had access to. Even the library at the University of Utah had really
limited information. I grew up near there and spent many an hour walking
the shelves browsing topics.

Probably like many others on this list today, in addition to Ham
Radio and many other hobbies, I still love tinkering with old computers and
electronics. I type on a laptop that has more processing power, memory, and
storage space than existed in the world when I first started tinkering.
Ironically I just completed building a Mil Mod 8/80 replica. The PCB's were
produced by another Ham in Canada, VA3NGC Charles Baetsen. Even though I
have very powerful tools today, a multi trace scope, a sixteen channel logic
analyzer, it was still a challenging task. To top off that project I
designed and built a 16k/64k RAM/ROM card. The little system has both 8008
and 8080 plug cards and I want to run more extensive software than I could
have otherwise done in 2k of RAM. I used KICAD for the PCB layout, a far
cry from laying out a PCB with tape and Mylar like I did in the 70's.

Even though the tools of today are light years ahead of what we had
in our youth there is a single common denominator, the creativity of own
minds. I don't believe we will EVER invent a more powerful tool than sits
on our shoulders. Rare are those who have ever, and will ever, learn to
master its capabilities.

Thanks for the seed!

73

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2021 11:09 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

OK, I've really dated myself now.

Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints,
mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering, projections
and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real, but looked
like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide rule, if
necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.

45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling
circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing them
in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished products
before they're even assembled.

The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was then,
is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea forward. The
feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into place out of
sheer necessity.

Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in
the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining
moments happened just as often in simpler times.

Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's
Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of
4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a
lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in
making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve my
odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist
pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.

I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern
battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong,
I'd taken my time and done it right.

I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.

Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning abstractions
into reality.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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wa6vab

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by Barry

Michael Chowning-2

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Drafting, 1956-57. For the first four weeks of class, Sr. Mary Joseph would not let us touch any drafting instruments until we each made, sanded, shellac’ed, to her satisfaction, our own drafting boards. Her rationale was that if we crafted our own boards, we would take better care of them. She was right. Due to the lack of a third year Latin class at my parochial high school, I took the Drafting class, which proved to be the most practical class I ever took, more so than the physics, chemistry and math.
Mike, N8TTR

> On Apr 24, 2021, at 1:08 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> OK, I've really dated myself now.
>
> Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints, mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering, projections and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real, but looked like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide rule, if necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.
>
> 45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing them in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished products before they're even assembled.
>
> The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was then, is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea forward. The feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into place out of sheer necessity.
>
> Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining moments happened just as often in simpler times.
>
> Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of 4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve my odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.
>
> I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong, I'd taken my time and done it right.
>
> I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.
>
> Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning abstractions into reality.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Edward R Cole

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by Dave Sublette-2

Wayne,

Thanks for sharing the memories.

I had been drawing things since a child, won a contest with a local
radio show for my crayon drawings at age five. By the time I was in
college I was already good at that. I got 1/2 point off one of my
drawings in drafting class, otherwise got 100% (found out latter, I
was top in drafting for my engineering class).

But I went into Electrical Engineering as a profession (where drawing
skills helped with diagrams).

Many years later I married the chief drafts-person for ORECK
Engineering. She was doing 3-D models on a computer which provided
files for their modeling machine to create scale models of
prospective products from plastic. She had been an artist in HS and
chose drafting as her profession (instead of starving artist). She
handled the entire blueprint library, keeping eng. change records for
the company. Great organizational skills. Those of you who
subscribe to Dubus Magazine in NA know her for managing subscriptions
(Janet Cole).

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
[hidden email]

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jeff stai-2

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Not offered in my HS as I recall in 1976 but in college one quarter of it
was required. I enjoyed it so much I took the second quarter.

My son who almost has his degree also recently took "drafting" courses, in
which they did an entire internal combustion engine including animating it
when it was done. Yike. 73 jeff wk6i

On Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 10:11 PM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> OK, I've really dated myself now.
>
> Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints,
> mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering,
> projections and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real,
> but looked like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide
> rule, if necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.
>
>
--
Jeff Stai ~ WK6I ~ [hidden email]
RTTY op at W7RN
Twisted Oak Winery ~ http://www.twistedoak.com/
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w2bvh

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

I didn't get to do a drafting course until college. It was taught by the
dean (guess any prof who had to get us to understand solid state
physics was "too good" to teach drafting).. I still fondly remember
doing some sheet metal layout and having such an oddly shaped piece in
the flat mapping so well to the intended shape in 3D. Didn't help at all
with EE, but fun!

73 & stay safe
Lenny W2BVH.

On 4/24/2021 1:08 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

> OK, I've really dated myself now.
>
> Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints, mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering, projections and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real, but looked like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide rule, if necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.
>
> 45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing them in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished products before they're even assembled.
>
> The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was then, is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea forward. The feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into place out of sheer necessity.
>
> Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same defining moments happened just as often in simpler times.
>
> Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of 4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve my odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the etch-resist pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.
>
> I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong, I'd taken my time and done it right.
>
> I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40 meters.
>
> Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning abstractions into reality.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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MIKE ZANE

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by Barry

Way back then in 1955, we only had Mechanical Drawing, no drafting. Mike

> On 04/24/2021 6:11 AM Barry <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
> High school in 1975? You're just a kid in ham circles, Wayne :-)
>
> Barry W2UP (HS class of '74)
>
>
>
> --
> Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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Dave Fugleberg

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Thanks for the memories Wayne! My High School drafting class was just a
couple of years after yours, and I remember it fondly. Everything from
drafting pencils (with lead of various sizes/hardness) to technical ink
pens on vellum. I enjoyed it so much that I persuaded the instructor to
let me check out one of the old drafting machines for the summer break (I
think it was a Universal).

Just a few years later, in my first real job as an electronics technician,
I was introduced to electronic schematic capture tools, specifically the
Daisy Systems Logician and some Mentor Graphics systems. I spent hundreds
of hours drawing and updating schematics for the EEs at that company. Those
machines were over $100 grand each at the time, with 10MB hard drives.
Then the wirelists went to automatic wirewrap machines, or later, to
specialized board routing/layout machines that were even more expensive.

Now we have free or cheap schematic capture software on PCs thousands of
times more powerful for use as hobbyists. Amazing. Yes, a lot has changed
in less than 50 years.

On Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 12:10 AM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

Jim Brown-10

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

On 4/24/2021 1:00 AM, Joe K2UF wrote:
> In 1955 we were the cool guys with a slide rule in a leather case hanging
> from your belt and india ink stains on your hands.

I don't remember Drafting in high school, but I do remember it, along
with courses in Nomography graphical methods to compute equations) and
the derivation of emperical equations from graphical data, both of which
were taught with mechanical drawing in my freshman year of EE in '59-'60.

My slide rule NEVER hung from my belt.

73, Jim K9YC

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KEN-3

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by Dave Fugleberg

In 1967 I started work as a Draftsman Trainee in the Engineering Division
of P&G. My group leader told me "There is a timesharing computer terminal
(Teletype 33) down the hall that we are not using. Find out if we can do
anything with it." That started my progression to programming and
eventually microcomputer evaluation and support. I retired in 2001.

BTW, we never did "pen and ink", pencil was used and then converted to
mylar drawings. Items like paper machines (Charmin, Bounty) are done in
right and left pairs (mirror images). The drawings were flipped over to
get the identical mirror images. Printing was erased and redone in
readable form.

Ken WA8JXM

On Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 2:05 PM Dave Fugleberg <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Thanks for the memories Wayne! My High School drafting class was just a
> couple of years after yours, and I remember it fondly. Everything from
> drafting pencils (with lead of various sizes/hardness) to technical ink
> pens on vellum. I enjoyed it so much that I persuaded the instructor to
> let me check out one of the old drafting machines for the summer break (I
> think it was a Universal).
>
> Just a few years later, in my first real job as an electronics technician,
> I was introduced to electronic schematic capture tools, specifically the
> Daisy Systems Logician and some Mentor Graphics systems. I spent hundreds
> of hours drawing and updating schematics for the EEs at that company. Those
> machines were over $100 grand each at the time, with 10MB hard drives.
> Then the wirelists went to automatic wirewrap machines, or later, to
> specialized board routing/layout machines that were even more expensive.
>
> Now we have free or cheap schematic capture software on PCs thousands of
> times more powerful for use as hobbyists. Amazing. Yes, a lot has changed
> in less than 50 years.
>
> On Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 12:10 AM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > OK, I've really dated myself now.
> >
> > Anyone remember "drafting"? A favorite class in high school: blueprints,
> > mechanical drawings, schematics, straight edges, hand lettering,
> > projections and elevations. We invented things to draw that weren't real,
> > but looked like they should be. Did all the math by hand -- on a slide
> > rule, if necessary. Day-dreamed about what we might one day build.
> >
> > 45 years later, we're using tools we couldn't have imagined. Modeling
> > circuits and objects with millions of parameters and vectors, realizing
> > them in virtual space, manipulating them in real time. Testing finished
> > products before they're even assembled.
> >
> > The transformation is mind boggling. Yet the best part now, as it was
> > then, is the occasional burst of creative energy that propels an idea
> > forward. The feeling of pieces falling into place. Or forcing them into
> > place out of sheer necessity.
> >
> > Most of the time, we think of our new tools and techniques as advances in
> > the state of the art. Things we can't live without. But those same
> defining
> > moments happened just as often in simpler times.
> >
> > Case in point -- my first real project, a rendition of W7ZOI's
> > Micro-mountaineer. Carefully documenting it took several sheets of
> > 4-squares-per-inch grid paper, which may still be in my cellar, beneath a
> > lifetime of such drawings. With the schematic, I took a lot of pride in
> > making the circuits look well-organized, as if that would somehow improve
> > my odds. On the PC board, I drew large traces and pads with the
> etch-resist
> > pen, as if that would somehow appease the electrons.
> >
> > I etched the PCB, soldered two dozen parts, and connected a 12 V lantern
> > battery. Thanks to my paranoia about what would happen if I did it wrong,
> > I'd taken my time and done it right.
> >
> > I was rewarded with a hiss of band noise and a few CW signals on 40
> meters.
> >
> > Here's to those moments, and to that timeless pursuit: turning
> > abstractions into reality.
> >
> > 73,
> > Wayne
> > N6KR
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
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>

Gwen Patton

Re: OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

I remember those classes, though I never took one. I wish I had, now.

I understand completely about the changes in our world. In the early 80's,
my college got an IBM PC through an educational program, and I was tapped
to set it up and use it in the library office. While learning what this box
could do -- I was more used to timesharing systems and the school's new VAX
-- I opined that it would someday be possible to digitize sounds and edit
them electronically, rather than the laborious process of cutting and
splicing tape, which I did routinely does the theatre department. Of
course, this was seen as impossible, as the storage requirements would be
far too great.

I do video and sound editing on my current PC. Storage might become an
issue, so I used some reward points from my credit card to buy an external
hard drive from Staples.

An _8 terabyte_ USB 3.1 hard drive. It cost around $150 or so.

I never did learn drafting, though I did learn the slide rule (now I
collect them), but I did create a webcomic with digital tools. Mostly
because I never learned to draw by hand, either. Or, at least, not very
well. I keep trying.

It's a crazy time to be alive, but parts of it are excellent!

73,
Gwen, NG3P

On Sat, Apr 24, 2021, 1:10 AM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

123