MAKING CRAFTSMEN

[Music] from the time Congress makes the first appropriations for a new naval ship because he slides down the ways to take a place in the United States fleet expert designers and draftsman highly-trained shipbuilders and skilled mechanics take part in her construction the equipment is the best guns and machinery are of the latest design he has the ruggedness of a champion heavyweight prize fighter and gets the precision of an expensive watch when this delicate assembly of high-powered machinery has her fairies for the first time he must be manned by a crew of Americans who jacket off and train to maintain their ship at the peak of efficiency or 30 tars no longer walk the anchor windows around electricity at the touch of the head performs this and a multitude of other tasks once accomplished by man home in the old days holding ship was a frequent job and was accompanied by bountiful dust which penetrated every nook and cranny of the ship on coding days the ban furnished music bluejacket turned to with them and characteristically they enjoyed themselves while working in our modern naval vessels coal bunkers have been replaced by oil tanks fuel is some support to be burned by multiple burners in clean ship safe fire room furnishing power to drive the vessel and to be converted into electricity to be distributed throughout the ship by a complex network of copper for use not only and menial tasks but in the highly technical job of coordinating gunfire to meet the demand for skilled specialists the Navy Department maintains a certain shore bases trade schools where recruits chosen for their ability and aptitude are given every opportunity to become proficient in both the theory and practice of their chosen craft while attending school the students live in these new and modern buildings amid presence around and here they are future Passman of the Navy and that tip-top physical condition which provides mental alertness and inquisitive mind the students of all crafts are given thorough instruction in theory planning and design like the young man in this electrical class all students events a keen interest in this phase of their studies mimes are trained in the classroom hands are trained by actual shop where the first project of the student and metalworking is the construction of his own toolbox in all projects the efforts of the students are utilized in the production of some tool or piece of equipment having practical events [Music] the students are proud of their traps all work is carefully inspected for flaws [Music] not all projects are as simple as the construction of a toolbox and old blades ready for the scrap Heath has been dismantled preparatory to being rebuilt by the tooth drawings made in the classroom are first utilized and the students in the carpenter students years bullies Kendal's caps and tools for the lathe must be cat and these students make the patterns for all of it although chips are made of steel there is plenty of work on board for the competence the ships boats ships furniture and decks must be kept in excellent condition the students receive instruction in the characteristics of different types of wood in wood turning planing and finish [Music] some of these students will later specialize in pattern making and judging from the appearance of these jobs the Navy will have some excellent pattern makers in the foundry the molding students draw a carefully weighed blend of molten metal from the cupola then they transported in pots to the mold where it poured and the molten metal cools it becomes the rough casting from which the parts of the lathe are made with a clang of steel against steel the blacksmith's students take their part in the project by forging the tools and accessories for the lathe and finally the students in the machine shop receive the rough castings and lathe tools for finishing and assembly milling the flutes on a drill presents one of the first milling machine problems finishing powder bores and dreamers teaches the students to work to close tolerances [Music] not much buzz from this power saw but it accomplishes the 10 saving many hours of hand labels inspection by competent instructors during every stage of the machining gives assurance that a large percentage of the work will pass final inspection [Music] ear cutting requires care and precision in order that the gears may operate quietly and smooth [Music] the Schaefer is used to finish special shape not adapted to a milling machine or lathe with slow but powerful reciprocating movements the shaper trims apart to the desired size and shape finishing some parts that disease dr filiz are simple turning jobs but machining them acquaint the students with the operation of the lathe control [Music] a rapid but thorough inspection would swear and scale [Music] the seatbelt ride smoothly and snugly in the groove constructor is an expert and no errors pass unnoticed then the Assembly of all parts into one unit are laid equal in all respects to a new Lane all components precision-made coming together sweet music to a machinist ear Electrical students learn the mysteries of electrical instruments used on a ship's drill their studies include not only the care repair and operation of electrical power machinery but also the devices used in interior communication that is this automatic dial telephone with its intricate wiring sir [Music] in the aviation machinist school the students are taught aircraft motor theory and the practical work of assembling repairing and overhauling aircraft engine later these motors will be taken to the test stand for trial runs where the instructor would introduce defects and for which the student must locate and remedy maintaining aircraft imperfect operating condition involves great responsibility these students must be prepared to meet all emergency [Music] no chance for an error as long as micrometer precision is required why rigging plays an important part in aircraft construction mutants are talk wire splicing testing and associated subjects [Music] the splices must be expertly made and carefully tempted to stress the varying weights [Music] the aviation machinist work in conjunction with the Aviation metals men to receive instruction in welding sheet metal work and coppersmith when the students graduate they have gained fundamental knowledge and painting in their craft on board ship to defeat their studies and practical experience continue by maintaining modern and well-equipped schools and by having expert instructors both ashore on the float the Navy solves its problem of providing skilled men to operate the complex oil steam and electrical machinery of our sea fortresses of today making craftsmen for America's first line of defense is a project well done by the name [Music] one of Uncle Sam's new cruisers is speeding across the Atlantic on the first leg of a shakedown cruise which in the Navy means a long voyage to test the equipment and to train the crew every blue jacket aboard is in high spirits the blue Mediterranean is ahead and there will be many ports of fall and you know a blue jacket has a good time wherever he goes whether it's New York China or Timbuktu actually every man wants the ship to its best after the long run from the states so all hands turn to everything must be shipshape there's plenty of paint polish and elbow grease finally comes the command let go the anchor of platter of iron and the chain rushes down through the Hogs pipes gentle music to the Blue Jackets or it means shore leave [Music] the Navy's out to see the sights in the little British town at the base of the big rock Gibraltar though in Spain is an English possession they found out one thing already whoever built Gibraltar must have run out of stones when they got around to the sidewalk steady boy gangway [Music] here's a spot where we can get a good look at the rock where's that big sign you see in the magazine edge I'll be a monkey's uncle if I know guess the company didn't pay its bill and they took it off well let's go up and find out about that look out Saylor remember you have sea legs and it's a long way up they don't know why they want to get up there but it's something to do so that's reason enough for a blue jacket in the centuries gone by a lot of invading armies tried this junk but they didn't get very far well Columbus took a chance so here goes anyhow [Music] look out cellar [Music] now look what happened another ruined weekend pull yourself together mate [Music] there's a lot to see here and we haven't much time the local garage man's willing to help oh yes for a hundred francs they can see all the spots of local interest but two more Frank keeps selling the whole works [Music] [Applause] if this isn't the life I don't know what is the French chauffeur and miles of scenery free for the looking this is a lot better than a driver chip the driver doesn't speak English you go everyw takes you but it's all bore so who cares one part of the riviera countries is interesting the other this mediterranean cruise is a few visiting firemen think they're pretty swell say there's nothing compared visiting sailors [Music] every shore-leave we see new sights new people Spanish French Italian and now some of those North African folks Tunis with its graceful minarets gives promise of real adventure give the Navy a day ashore and they know as much about the town as the residents themselves picturesque resides and market and now some all ruins on the outskirts the natives saving to the ruins of an old Roman Colosseum built centuries before Uncle Sam hey baby so we'll give it the once-over in a couple of hours we're going to know more about it than an archeologist well you can't help but say life in the Navy is great [Music] around the ruins and over the roof so now to find out what's underneath perhaps a buried city or so take home to the girlfriend well full speed ahead have yourself a time because nobody cares much about these old ruins anyway the owner broke the lease long ago there's no bad feeling in this treasure hunt it's one for all and all for one there are ports of call of plenty on this Mediterranean cruise but there's only one Venice what a thrill when the ship heads toward the Grand Canal it's no wonder Venice is called the queen of the Adriatic [Music] in their gondolas looking for customers are all the merchants of Venice what a sure [Music] this historic city has the boys running around in circles but somehow everyone ends up here in st. Mark's Square where you find the famous pigeons that are fed by the tourists the mechanical clock men are famous the world over they've been hammering out the hours for a couple of centuries talk about your mailman who goes walking on his day off here's a real starless holiday they just got off a boat and now they're getting in another one but after all Venice wouldn't be Venice without a ride in the gondola no work in the singing horsemen this is the real way to see Venice the city of romance and grandeur words don't begin to a describe it so we left the Venetian atmosphere speak for itself [Music] then come [Music] [Applause] [Music]