The local machine tool industry, working with the public school system, established a joint program to educate interested students in the machine tool industry. This program was usually started in the freshman year of high school. The student spent a portion of their school day in one of the shops, first observing the various machinery, and then, as they progressed, learning how to operate them. They received an established amount of pay for their services, which rose as they became more proficient. This program benefitted both the student and the local industries; the student would learn valuable skills, which could be used after graduation if the person wished to stay in town. The local shops were grooming a future workforce.

My first assignment after the requisite physical, was to report to the J&L co-op department, run by Fay Kingsbury. His “office” and work area was downstairs right next to the cafeteria. Fay’s wife, Claire, ran the cafeteria. All of this was halfway down the length of Plant #1. It was quite convenient, and more than a little distracting, as the smells from cooking were always inviting. The cafeteria always had a big following, especially during the Holidays. One of Claire Kingsburys special treats were her popcorn balls, five for a dollar. We always bought some to give to friends.

Fay had a small assortment of manual machines in his department, and there were a few guys working there from the local high school. I was somewhat familiar with the machinery, as we had a machine shop at VTC in Randolph Center. But I was not very good at any machining operation, and didn’t pretend to be. But I got by. One of our projects was the making of a soft faced hammer, using a piece of iron pipe for a handle, a short chunk of steel for a head, and brass and aluminum for the screwed in faces. I still have mine, stamped “7-1-1965”. Most of the machining required using a lathe and milling machine, various cutting tools, a knurling tool, and hand taps.

Fay Kingsbury was an early advocate of the American Precision Museum in Windsor. Back in 1965 the building was in dire need of repair, and there was a lot of work to be done. I remember going into the building with a bunch of guys to do some “clean up” work, on the top floor just below the roof. Over the years a lot of the glass in the eyebrow windows had broken or fallen in. So of course the birds had a nice cozy place to roost.

I’m not sure when the museum opened to the public, but it was a man named Edwin Battison who became involved in 1966. He became the driving force for what it is today, a first rate collection of early machine tools. Born in Windsor and working in the local shops, he eventually took a job with the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.. Upon retirement, he became involved with the museum in Windsor.