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2014 Jan Meeting
- Large Container from Stevens Trade School about 1910
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Comments for this image
John C Long posted this background. My father turned the piece when he was a student at Stevens Trade School. He majored in drafting and pattern making and was graduated in the two year course in 1911. After playing baseball as a professional (triple A) in Shepard, Michigan and for Hagerstown, he returned to Lancaster to get a teaching degree at Millersville State Teacher's College. He and Elmer Ruth, a fellow ballplayer, founded the Lanco Umpires League. He taught Industrial Arts in the Lancaster School District for over 40 years. He also taught math, drafting, and woodworking as an adjunct teacher at Stevens Tech and Millersville College. He also worked part time, most of his life, at a Lancaster pattern making shop.
The piece in question was a required project at Stevens. I don't know it's purpose, but my mother used it to store sewing materials. She may also have put the wire handle onto it. The wood is white pine. The top is made up of 32 segments and the barrel composed of 12 layers with each layer of 6 segments. It stands 16'' tall and 16" round. I believe the finish to be white shellac although I have never tested it with alcohol.
Students at Stevens, at that time, were expected to make many of their own tools. My father gave his tools and tool boxes to me and I still use them.
Upon my father's death, I requested from my siblings that I be given the round box as I was the only family member who had any interest in wood turning. I expect to pass this family heirloom on to our son Michael who also has an Industrial Arts degree from Millersville University as I also do. Michael works at Tait Towers where he does cad-cam design for stage sets for celebrities. His first job there was a stage design for Michael Jackson. He is presently working on a stage for Cher. Michael credits his encouragement and training for this skill to a professor and fellow member/turner Keith Lauderbach.