Where did everyone get their start

Mark Hunt

When I joined the Air Force out of high school, I went open mechanical . I never dreamed in school I would be working in the mechanical trades. But as the hand of God would determine, I love it. Many, many trade schools, books, courses later it has turned into a real passion. Nineteen years later, I am a proud business partner and enjoying life. Working on the civilian side and working on the military side in the same profession has thrown a unique twist on it. I am curious how many of you has gotten their start in this great profession?

gerry gill

in the navy...

same thing..no one would give me a job cause my dad wasn't a plumber..but once i got that first post navy job, everyone wants to give me one now...but i ain't forgot...i have a lonnnnng memory..actually makes me laugh when i hear civilians speak of 100 lb. steam as high pressure..our boilers ran at 1275 psi...anything under 150 lb. was low pressure.

Firedragon_4

Air Force, but I was

taught at Navy Schools in Port Hueneme, CA. Great staff of instructors, Navy Chiefs and AF Master Sergeants. 10 years total including Reserves, went out as top wrench and OJT instructor in Heating Shop. That lead to my teaching and writing career, but it was tilted since I was working at it every day.

Kinda crazy when I look back since my high school sweetheart (married 35 years) dad owned an oil company, who knew. Really weird because I went into the AF in electronics as a voc grad and got shifted at Lackland. Life is crazy.

My brother went into the AF in aircraft maintenance and he ended up in the oilheating business too.

Steve Minnich_1

In the catacombs...

beneath the restaurants of downtown Chicago, repairing refrigeration units back in 1980. These weren't the finer places. They were the greasiest of greasy spoon dives. The caves smelled of dead rats, were inhabited by live rats and other furry creatures that, I hope, were too big to be rats.

This was right after college and trade school and I was seriously reconsidering my career choice. But things eventually got better after the first couple of years. The first couple were really hard because I didn't have a clue or know where to find one.

I replaced my first boiler in 1982 and it took me 13 hours on a pretty straight forward change--or as straight forward as I knew back then. I really had no business being out there by myself, but I managed and all worked out well.

I've had my own little business now for a number of years and, other than playing right wing in the NHL or playing lead guitar in a rock'n roll band, I don't think there is anything I'd rather be doing.

Steve Minnich, Radiant Comfort Systems

Bill Nye

Dear old Dad

I was riding in an oil delivery truck at age 2. When I was 4 the plumber where my Dad worked died. The next day my father was the plumber. He stayed there 30 years.

I helped my dad almost every day after school and during the summer and on weekends. I installed my first heating system when I was 12.

In 1989 I went to work for a fuel oil dealer as a burner technician. I went to NEFI and I even had Firedragon for a teacher once or twice.[substitute teacher].

In 1989 I met Dan Holohan, I started reading his books and articles and fell in love with the heating trade.

Glenn Harrison_2

I've got my father to thank for this career.

Back when I graduated High School, I decided that after 12 years of school I wanted a break for a year. My Dad informed me that if I thought I was so blankety blank blank smart, I could move out and start living on my own! He then thru the local college catlog at me and told me to find some classes to take. As I was going thru the catalog, mainly thinking of automotive classes, the HVAC section jumped out at me, and then I started having flashbacks of helping my dad change the filters, checking the belt, and oiling the bearings on our old furnace. I then decided that this is what I wanted to do. Took two and a half years of classes. During my fourth semester, I got a teacher who also owned a HVAC company, and took a liking to me, and hired me. Started out as an install helper for six months, then got thrown into service due to him needing a tech and my having an obvious technical and diagnostic ability. Five years later I wound up leaving him due to changes in business practice that I couldn't live with, and have been working with my current employer for eight years doing resi. service.

I just wish I had gotten the business and financial abilities my father had, (he was a business professor at Roosevelt University), so I could maybe get into business for myself. But I did get my mechanical abilities from him and my Grandpa, so I do my best to do the max with what I was given.

Thanks dad, I'll always owe you one for that swift kick in the rear I needed when I was 18.

Don Walsh

In the blood!

My great grandfather came from Ireland and opened a plumbing shop. His son, (my grandfather) hated the plumbing trade, so he learned how to be a well driller and pump repairman, and later opened his own shop. His son (my dad) hated the well drilling business but liked working on pumps, so he started a hydraulic pump repair business. I hated working on the damned hydraulics as a lad, and was determined to get an education and break the mold.

After finishing my formal education in business management, I married a very pretty young lass whose father was a plumber, her three uncles were plumbers, five of her cousins were plumbers. I couldn't find work in my field of education (it was the late 1960's and there were very few jobs to be had anywhere), so I took a summer job as a carpenter's helper to pay the family bills. Every time I was around the wife's family, I was constantly derided as being "The Termite." To get them off my back, I agreed that I would take their stupid apprenticeship entry test at the plumber's local. I figured I'd fail the test and that would be the end of the harrassment. Little did I know at that time, the die had been cast, the fix was in, I was going to be accepted, no matter what I did or didn't do on the test!

I never did look for any other work in my field of education, but instead carved out a future in the pipe trades. I started working as an apprentice under my father-in-law, and 25 years later he retired while working for me at my mechanical contracting shop.

It may have been the bloodline, the deck might have been a stacked one, but I would not change a single thing about the marvelous career I have been so blessed to learn, build, and share these last 37 years.

It is of great sadness to me, that there as so few young persons that will even consider learning the pipe trades. It is such a rewarding business to be in, and a very honest and reputable way to spend one's life serving the needs of others.

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Weezbo

Ok ! We are gonna build a New House!

) thats when Snap switches were the new kid on the block:)fuses were the norm and grounding was considered to be something some sissy dreamed up:)))Lead and okum was normal and we went with the galv pipe rather than the Lead:) Thank Gawd! I'm crazy enough:))..could be hereditary:) my folks are from completely different countries and completely seperate caste quoin and quoit I love my folks:)They like work work is good thing.:)All along the way we just keep on pluggin along. then about 1968 we came to America To Live! well may i say That was Highly over rated:) we left Bermuda ,Mary Mark Mom Poppazano and I jan 15 1968 89¡ãF on land ,92¡ãF in the ocean:) jumped off the aeroplane 50 Below ! Ice fog ! dog team stop for an Aeroport! Holding your arm out straight in front of you hand up like indicating Stop! you could not see your hand!...Well the rest is all tedious struggle and service to make this a better community and a place I'd like to live. Heck of a battle .sometimes i think we are gaining:)

John Felciano

Got my start

At the age of 11 helping my grandfather winterize summer cottages on a lake.He used to send me into the crawl spaces under them to break the unions and open the drains while he drained the main floor.Used to charge them $15.00,and gave me $5.00.That was some awesome money when your 11 years old.That was 27 years ago.It's amazing how fast time goes by.My grandfather was a great guy and tought me alot even though he was only a maintanince plumber for a big factory.

Later it was on to tradeschool and an apprenticeship for 6 years.Started my own business at age 23 and have never wanted to be anywhere else.This is a awesome industry and now is a great time to be part of it.Although I would love to go back in time and spend a week working with the dead men.

Wayco Wayne_2

start

My first job was working in a fabric store as a stock boy hauling bolts of cloth up the stairs for the ladies. I was attending community college at the time. Then my friend Paul got a job at a small independent HVRAC shop that did a lot of refrigerators and ice machines. They wanted him because he was built like Paul Bunyan and could move large equipment easily. I was allowed to tag along and get my first helper job. I had no talent for it and was almost let go, but I was good with a joke and I made friends with the bosses son by sharing my mexican flower tops with him one day at a chinese restaurant. We laughed and laughed at nothing in particular in the kitchen fixing the ice machine and listening to the Asian waiters call out their orders. That was 1972. I kept coming back each Summer as I went through college. I ended up studying Elementary education but there were no jobs to be had in those days in that field and I ended up back home working for the small hvrac shop. I then started trade school at night because I didn't know what else to do and found I had an affinity for this stuff. I also liked helping people. One thing led to another and I had my Master license in Washington DC, then VA, and then MD. Worked for large commercial companys and moved on to controls and air balance. Started my own business 18 years ago and gravitated towards radiant floorswhile continuing to do residential HVAC. Now I teach night school after work in the Fall. What a long strange trip it's been for somone who almost got fired 32 years ago. WW

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Kal Row

dont know why i am posting this,

Since no one is going to believe it anyway, nevertheless, here goes:
I was somewhere between 7-10 years old and it was real cold and the oil burner broke and the boiler man couldn’t figure it out, I just went to the library around the corner – read up on it with the AUDEL’S, and fixed it, turned out, the stack switch, got knocked out of place and misadjusted, (the store underneath us, stored boxes there) – but with a good understanding of the system, I knew what to look for – whereas “Mr. nozzle changer” didn’t

Unknown

My start was

living in Southwestern PA back in the 1940's we heated with coal. My Dad after WWII worked for a company called Citnic Fuel as a sales engineer. I remember going to his place of business as a small boy and seeing all the different coal boilers and furnaces. I guess this planted something in my head for future use.

After my Dad was killed by a drunk driver and my Mom was forced to move into the city from the country home we lost after Dad died things got real tough. Mom being alone sort of started depending on me to help out. My daily job was to clean the coal hetrola (like a space heater) and rebank the fire every day. I hated that job. I used to say some day I am going to heat my house with one of those round things on the wall (a thermostat).

I entered the U.S. Navy ( I actually went to join the marines, but the marine recruiter was at lunch, his loss, so the Navy grabbed me instead). Went to electronics school in the Navy and served on two destroyers. I found myself often below decks fascinated with what made the ship run. I actually got qualified on the evaporators on one ship just because on my off hours I was hanging around with all the "snipes" and they sort of indoctrinated me on how boilers and steam systems operated. Those steam systems were 600lb systems real scary stuff.

When I left the Navy after nine years I immediately went to work for the local gas company. I started out as a laborer in the construction and maintenance department. I got involved with the union and most of the union leadership worked in the service department. I finally had enough seniority to bid into the service department. I was trained for four years and advanced to an "A" service tech. In 1976 I was promoted into management and given the job of revamping the training for the company. I worked at that job for 18 years until 1994 when I was downsized out of the company. During my time with the gas company I also operated a restaurant service company on the side (with permission from the gas company) which I sold when I went into management. In 1970 I became a Born Again Christian and in 1984 was ordained into the ministry and pastored a church for 17 years while still working with the gas company.

In 1994 after being downsized I started what is now Gas Appliance Service Training and Consulting. That is what I am doing at the present time.

During all those years I loaned myself out to many different contractors to do installation of boilers, furnaces and roof top equipment. I also installed and set up over 3,600 power gas conversion burners converting oil over to gas in most of those cases. I did also some coal to gas conversions.

It has sure been a long and interesting journey so far. One of these days when I have learned all that I can I will retire until then I am really enjoying myself doing what I do, that is teaching others. I consider that my reward, the privledge to be able to stand up and teach someone else about what I know. Hey and sometimes I even get paid for doing it.

Paul Rohrs_2

fascinating thread....

This backs up my "mindset" that nobody great ever came from greatness. Humble beginnings and hard work is the answer to success.

Regards,

PR

ScottMP

Two years at a State college

When I finally figured out I was happiest working with my hands. I was always the one in the family who fixed stuff when it broke or took it apart to figure out how it worked. If something was broke they all said " get Scott ".

Alway had a job, paper route, cutting grass, working on estates even worked a varity store.

After two years of college I left, thought I was going to go to enginering school. I almost went to the dark side .

My Dad found a small add in the back of the paper looking for a " Mechanical minded person " to work as an apprentice plumber. "

I hated it! I remember the frist time we pulled a toilet and the plumber told me to clean off the stuffon the bottom. " What is it !! " He laughed and said " What do you think it is " . OOHHH GGGAAWWD I am not touching that. I had never seen a wax ring before.

I got interested in the heating end of things when working with Austin Morley, the first guy who showed me how to take pride in my jobs. He made it fun to work.

Sent myself to the IBR course. Anyone remember them talking about 3/8" tubing to the radiators ?

Got my Master Plumbers lic. in 1983 and started my own business. I did the basic pumps on the return and auto-can vents right above them untill I went to Dans class.

And the rest is History

Scott

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Ranger

U.S.Coast Guard..

...two weeks after graduating from high school.I had origionally intended on becoming a heavy equipment mechanic but when I was sent to the ship out of boot camp I was assigned to "A" Gang (auxiliary equipment)where I was fortunate to find out about pumps & circulators,steam boilers for heat and domestic hot water,de-salinators for making potable water at sea,diesel generators,and of course,shipboard air conditioning & refrigeration.I was lucky enough to meet my first two important mentors in my life (other than my parents) MK1 Harry Dozier & MK2 Les Kaplan.Thay took the 17 year old kid and showed him around.(along with the rest of engineering).I had so much fun learning about such mechanical things from those two!I had already decided that this was going to be my vocation so I
left the military after my 4 year stint and at 21 I got married to my wife and went directly to Lincoln Tech.and worked part time nights at an auto parts store.Here I met two more mentors,Mr.Steve Mohr and Mr.Ed Peterson.After the year long HVAC program I graduated and went looking for a job in the field.I had met my next good frend and mentor Mr.Joseph Paino at an RSES seminar in early 1987.My wife and I were living near Philadelphia (that was the last place I was stationed in the service so we stayed there after I got out you see),and by chance Joe got me a job with the company he worked for.Only trouble was it was on the other side of the state in Monmouth County!So we quickly made arangements to relocate to the Jersey Shore.
The company's main focus was new construction residential & commercial so on the third day thay asked me if I would try
a service call.I said sure!It's already broke,how much worse could I make it?So that day I got to condem my first
commercial package unit.It was an old Fedders and it had a very bad burn out. (funny how you remember those things?)I went on to such service calls as "All the air comes out of the big grill in the hallway" and "My ice cubes have turned brown ever since your company installed the new boiler" and "My house is the only one on the block with no snow on the roof!" So I moved on (later taking Joe with me) Where I met probably the two most important mentors as far as this field is concerned.Mr.Jack Rise & Mr Jeff Crane.I learned novels of information from those two A-N-D because of them I was lucky enough to meet one of my very best & favorite mentors..This guy from Long Island that spoke so vividly and passionatly about hydronics and steam!(not to mention what a great person).I worked nite and day,took alot of RSES
courses and went to as many seminars and factory schools as I could.I still recall meeting my wife at The Office Lounge
in Toms River at midnight for dinner once and awhile just so we could spend an hour to get to talk & see each other before the next gruling day started promptly at 7:00 a.m.Eventually working in such a manor took it's toll on my person and at 33 I could'nt physically get out of bed to go to work any more (I have three bad disc's in my spine and one in particular is "talking" to me right now in a rather foul manor.sometimes I wonder around the house like "Ozzy" much to my family's amusement esp. if my back "locks-up" and I get stuck somewhere like in front of the refrigerator)anyway the next option for me was to move inside so I went to work for the supply house.So now I am doing Technical Support and helping out with the training courses we offer to the contractors here and giving back some of the knowlage and field experances I have aquired over the last 22 years.And planning to move hopefully to "The Next Level".
Ranger

Unknown

What ships were you on?

There's a few Coasties on here with you...

Noel

USCGC Taney

BillW@honeywell

I think I already told you, but...

USCGC Dallas (3 years) COTPNY (1 year).

Jim Erhardt

It's been my life...

After college, I taught science in a public school system for two years. That was about 23 years ago.

Since I had worked with my dad in a family-owned P&H biz every summer since I was 12, I did the same throughout college and during my short teaching career. In 1981, I went into the family biz full time.

My dad loved plumbing, I loved heating. By the mid 80s, dad was slowly sliding out of the day-to-day stuff, and we began doing more "high end hydronics." Radiant floor heating, Euro wall panel radiation, Viessmann boilers, etc. I really enjoyed doing these systems! I had my master plumber's license and a limited electrical license for doing all of my own control wiring.

In the mid 90s, my dad retired, and I got away from swinging wrenches and went into this side of the industry. I've been with Slant/Fin for 4 years now, and this is where I will no doubt stay until I go to the Big Radiant Party in the sky.

"The only manifolds I ever installed that never leaked were the ones I built myself."

Tom Stayer_2

Back when I was a......

11 yr old youngster; I can remember helping my dad on a refrigeration job. Ever since then I haven't been able to put the tools away.

Ranger

HORST WESSEL...

...or better known as the U.S.C.G.BARQUE EAGLE WIX-327.Yes even though I was a snipe I am also a square knot sailor.Sept.1982 to Feb.1984.Than off to MK'A'school in Yorktowne.Finished up as one of the MK's on the small boats/SAR crew
at beautiful Base Glouster City N.J.(Capt.of the Port Philadelphia)...My Dad served on the Absecon (311') and the Capstan (65'tug) and was also at small boats in Piney Point Maryland in the 1960's.He met my Mom while on the Captstan in Alexanderia Va....Semper Paratus:)

Unknown

My dad was a snipe on the Eagle, too.

Want to read a great book, with a story in it about the Eagle?

Just came out,

"All Fishermen are Liars", by Linda Greenlaw.

I couldn't put it down.

Noel

PS, I was in the yards at Curtis Bay in 1980, and on the other side of the pier was the Eagle.

I had to go below to see "Elmer"

Deanie

found my self unemployed

I went to the local unemployment office (in tears, I now had no way to support myself.)the customer service rep gave me a book of all the course that they would pay for in order to train me in any field I wanted.

I choose Hvac because it was the longest course in the book. That was 10 years ago and now love the business and all the knowledge that I gain everyday from it....

Ranger

Darn!

...My response jumped to the top instead of the bottom.Anyway I think it's kinda neat that it seams we all got started either as a result of the military or from family.My Grandfather worked for Quiet Automatic at one time and according to my father when he was alive that my grandfather would terriorize him by makeing him troubleshoot burner circuits in the basement so much so that
when he came home from the service he became a Cop!

Ranger

Noel!

...Wow.I think 1980 was Elmer's last year (Elmer,buy the way was a M.A.N.German diesel.It was a similar type used in the U-Boats of WWII.)The Eagle was origionally The Horst Wessel and was built to train German sailors seamenship.Elmer was replaced by "MAX",a 1000 H.P.Catepillar D399 in 1981.(Elmer was I believe 750 H.P.)Sadly,I got to see Elmer rotting away behind the firehouse at Curtis bay in 1983.God I hate to see old things waste away like that,thay have such great stories to tell!Noel,what is your dad's name if I may ask? I will definately
have check out that book!And the generators were "Drip's "and "Drool's" (a pair of Detroit 8V-71's.)I've heard there gone now too...(fredsplace.org)Wild Bill got to play with the Fairbanks-Morris & the Pratt-Whittney FT4A's on the 378'..Kewl stuff!I think the 311' & 327' had Fairbank's in there engine room two,did'nt thay?

Unknown

Elmer

Elmer was most of an engine, she had no oil pump, or valve cover. A guy stood beside the engine with an oil can and oiled the valves as the engine ran. THAT'S old!!! She was from the 30s.

I bet the crew was glad once oil pumps were invented and put in engines. On other ships.

The Taney's boilers were Babcock & Wilcox boilers; Huff & Puff. Check her out.

http://www.baltomaritimemuseum.org/pearl/tour.html

http://www.baltomaritimemuseum.org/taney/taneyframe.html

My Dad's name was Doug Woodward, '53 to '57 ish. He's gone, now. My mom's last name was MORSE, as in Fairbanks Morse engines.

Small world, huh?

Noel

lchmb

about the same..only different

My Father drove a delivery truck when I was a kid. He also on nights and weekends fixed systems. After High School I entered law enforcement. I worked for the Department of Correction, State prison and then went on to work for a city police department. When I realized I was tired of rotating shift's and court and political games I started a new career. Still wonder how I ended up putting in heating systems??? Can someone tell me where I went nutty? J/K

Darin Cook_3

The Military was a great place to start

I was paid to learn a trade. I got to go see and do things that I never would have been able to if I had gotten a job with someone right off. It also gave me the chance to see and work on alot of different systems in Europe. This is a trade that has had its ups and downs. The ride so far is still very satisfying. There is some interesting stories above, and all to be proud of.




Darin

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Dead Men

Woodworking instinct from dad's side.

Intuition from mom's side.

Skilled and caring tradesmen who built a great home out of long-lasting materials that despite decades of decline and neglect will likely continue to delight occupants for generations beyond me.

ernie_3

dumb luck

Studying plastics engineering@ U of Lowell (Ma.) Met my future bride and school was secondary. Was motivated by $ but had no direction. A friend got me a job delivering fuel and as a sub contractor was pd by the gallon. Was in first and went home last. "Old Man Fawcett" noticed my motivation and put me through NEFI. Now licensed 18 yrs, Mr. Fawcett passed on and the son and I didn't see eye to eye. Small mechanical business going on 6 yrs has been very good to me. My father still thinks I should have stuck w' engineering. Will Not impose my will on my children!!!!For youngsters.....if you love what you do the $ will come.

Mark Eatherton1

Hit the glass ceiling...

and decided that running equipment rental yards were not the thing for me. A great life experience, but no where to grow monetairily. I sat down and talked with my dad, a master plumber with his own business. He said I could start tomorrow if I wanted and as far as pay was concerned, the sky was the limit. I think it was his dream to have his sons work for him anyway. I did, and my brother did. We both turned out for our masters in the minimum time required. I then branched off of plumbing and went into the Solar heating thing. When that died, I found myself in light commercial boiler rooms doing things with controls, which eventually led to the hydronics thing.

Here I am, 31 years later, living it, and loving it!

The only thing I'd have done different would be to take better care of my body (back and knees)...

ME

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BillW@honeywell

Hey, Ranger...

Was your CO on the Eagle Capt. Kelly? If so, he was the Exec on the Dallas. He was a good guy, and really "looked the part" of a sailing ship skipper, besides being able to do it, too! I was aboard the Eagle up in Halifax in 2000 for the "Tall Ships". Man, those cadets looked young, and on the day the ships left, they all made a big circle around the harbor, upwind on diesel, and as they rounded the turn and headed downwind, the Eagle shook out all her canvas at once, and boiled past the crowd with every stitch flying! I was cheering so loud my throat was sore for 2 days afterwards! What a sight to see.

Unknown

More on the Eagle...

What a beauty!

http://www.cga.edu/eagle/dailyposition/052004Journal.htm

Ranger

Noel & Bill

The C.O.was Capt.Moynahan? and Capt.E.Cummings The X.O. was LT. Kunutzon and LT.Danials and Deck Boss was CWO "RED" Shannon.Yes both diesels are dry sump (the oil sump is directly under the engine,at least w/the D399.)She had Vapor-power down fired water tube boilers (picture an old G.E. on steroids) fireing at around 13-15 GPH? each if I remember correctly.The control doors were screwed open w/fans mounted at an angle blowing into the control box so thay would'nt lock out from the heat.(Fire-eye plug in amplifier?)I remember being between Trinidad & Tobago in the summer of 83'and the engine room was over 135F.The generator room was even hotter!Stood under the weather deck fans and prayed nothing was outta wack while on watch.Sweat like a 300 pound cheerleader.Smoke cigerettes and drink coffee like mad.Always dug mid watch although 4-8 was kewl to because ya had to check the small boats in the a.m.,the sun would be comming up and there would almost always be porpose along side.I can't believe i'm saying this now but I kinda miss being underway...:)

S Davis

Getting Started

I can thank my mother-in-law, when I met my wife I was a cook in Lake Tahoe Nevada, when she figured she was not going to get me away from her daughter she decided I did not have a good enough profession, she was a property manager and got me in touch with her plumbing and heating contractor, that was in 1988 and now I have my own buisness in washington State.

S Davis


Apex Radiant Heating

mp1969

Bloodlines

Fourth son of a master plumber, oldest brother a master plumber,second oldest a master plumber(mechanical contractor),third oldest a sheetmetal worker(mechanical contractor), myself a master plumber(prior contractor), my sister a secretary and business manager for our mechanical contracting firm(s)and my youngest brother a steamfitter/refrigeration specialist.
Was given a 6" pipe wrench instaed of a baby rattler.Started handing my dad wrenches at about 5 years old in the shop and went on his truck on weekends when I was about seven.
Sometimes rejected this force fed trade but overall am very proud to be part of it !!!!
Great post!!!

MP 1969

jackchips_2

Late bloomer

next to all you young starters. Although my Dad has been a plumber since the early 50's (that's 1950's) we never hooked up. He was a card carrier all that time and did very little moonlighting to train someone.

I was a sales rep for Libby's, Libby's, Libby's which you were supposed to put on your Table, table, table in 1969. Coming home from my two weeks of National Guard active duty at Camp Drum I was informed that the company decided to go with a distributor and let 17 of us go.

I went and spoke to my late Father-in-law and he signed me up as an apprentice and then had me cleaning bricks from the 1960's demolition from the City of Worcester all summer. He and his brother used to sell them for five cents apiece.

One of the rare times he had me help out he sent me to the truck to solder a 1/2" male adaptor onto a piece of pipe. When he came out to check on me the pipe and fitting no longer resembled copper. I had burnt them to a crisp. Not having soldered before I had no idea what flux was.

Those of you who have worked with WWII veterans who survived combat know the language he used on me before showing me how to do it properly.

From there I worked for a few companies before starting my own business in 1972 after getting my Masters license. I ran a very small firm for 13 years. Since 1985 I have worked as a Plumbing designer/engineer, achieving CPD status with ASPE, and mostly an estimator.

It's been a great field and thanks Darin for helping with the memories. This note is just a short version of the things I've thought about because of your question.

bill clinton_3

getting started

Kinda embarrassed to place my story in with this crowd: feel kinda like I'm breaking wind in church. Got my license from a box of Post Toastie (or was it Sugar
Frosted Flakes?)

My father was a farmer, escapee from depression Oklahoma; Grapes of Wrath and all that. He died when I was quite young. With the aid of hard working summers, part time jobs, loans and some scholarships, I managed a college education that was immensely valuable to me, but didn't really give me a career. (It might have, had I known what to do.)

My first post-college job was as a laboratory technician in the research labs of Shell Chemical Co. (I did have some physics and chemistry under my belt.) Pretty decent job, but boring and after two years, I was climbing the walls.

A friend suggested I become a house painter like he was. It looked good to me, so I got some books to learn what I could. Pounded the pavement knocking on doors of houses that looked like they needed painting. One day, I finally got someone to agree to let me paint their house. I quit my job, borrowed a ladder, and bought my first paint brush AND learned the painter joke:
A guy applies for a job as a painter. The boss asks: "Are you experienced?" "Yes", the guy responds. "Do you drink?" "No," he answers. "Then you ain't experienced!" says the boss.

I didn't drink and it probably showed.

This went on for several years and I liked the work and made good money and did a decent job. The problem was winters. Nobody paints the outside of houses in the winter, and I couldn't stand indoor work. Went broke every winter.

One weekend, I helped some friends do some plumbing. I had no experience but could figure it out. So someone suggests I go into plumbing. Sounded good to me.

So back to the library for everything there. Haunted the hardware store looking at plumbing stuff. Formed an alliance with the local plumbing supply guy: I'd go look at something needing done, then he'd tell me how to do it in exchange for buying there.

I speciallized in small repair work: Called myself The Faucet Man. Had a logo drawn: No-kink style hose bibb in a trench coat; the packing nut and handle formed a beanie-like hat (complete with propeller); the hose threads were the nose.

I was unlicensed. When the local paper demanded a license number before allowing me to run an ad, I gave them my drivers license number. They ran the ad.

Did that for a few years but wanted to get respectable. Changed name to Clinton Plumbing and went for a contractor's license. At the time the State of California was big on bringing unlicensed contractors into legitimate status. They were willing to accept experience gained as illegal contractor toward the four years experience requirement. They also gave me one year for college education. Add to that a couple of reference letters and they would let me take the test.

I actually studied for that test. Read the books and enrolled in a "get your contractor's license" course that absolutely guaranteed I would pass the test after taking their course. They were good! Two days before the state test, I went to their office and took a practice test which they scored; marking my errors and telling me the right answers. Then they made me take the same test again. And again. And again.

Came Monday morning, I showed up for the state test. Guess what questions were on it. Took about 15 minutes just writing in answers--didn't need to read the questions. Sat there another hour, embarrassed to turn in the test so early. I noticed there were about six other guys fidgeting the same way I was. How soon could we decently get out of there? (Don't answer that question).

That test was thirty two years ago. About fifteen years ago, I added to my credentials in a manner at least as farcical. The State of California Department of Consumer Affairs hired a consultant to determine how predictive of later performance their tests might be. The answer was that the correlation was zero. In what I considered a ploy to get funding for new tests, the said Department announced that since the tests had no predictive value, they would be dropped. You wouldn't need to take a test at all.

So I sent them my fifty bucks and got my boiler license.

I actually loved hydronics and studied everything that came along. Took the IBR class, trained my workers, had a good time doing it.

Hey, why's everybody leaving the church holding their nose? It wasn't me! honest! It was that tin-knocker over in the corner! Aww, c'mon guys; where's your sense of humor?

Bill

Mike Kraft_2

Bill ,That Was a Wonderful Yarn.

Loved it and I didn't smell a thing.

My story I feel is truely unworthy.I come from a white collar family with blue collar roots.As dear dad has refered to me,I'm the "black sheep";)!

As a kid I always loved and adored the outdoors.Camping,biking,backpacking,fishing and hitchhiking.School and I got along like cats and dogs.Graduating high school was done to eliminate my presance I believe but @ home a "college education" was demanded.

Through the help and concern of my headmaster we found a 2 year school in the NY Adirondacks for forestry.Which dad deemed ridiculous.So into local county college(Harvard on the highway)which I dropped out of after 1/2 of a semester.

Scrounging around with various jobs I ended up with NJ Division of Fish and Game.Loved it to death.Worked there 3 years and loved it.The pay was low and being in my early 20's I was feeling tied down.On a whim I applied to the Peace Corp.They accepted me and I was heading to South America.I was quite anxious.One thing left to do before I was to go was to see the Dead in Englishtown:)...........Thats when it happened!!I met Kathy:)Didn't go to S.A..That was in 1977.

I left fish and game,decided to find a trade:)Tried truck driving.....nope.Then a plumber was changing a faucet at my moms house.I rapped with him for awhile and figured that would be it.

So now it's 25 years later.Got my own thing going on and still want to go to South America:)Actually have a client who is in the Peace Corp and goes to the rain forest frequently...........who knows:)But for now I have raised two great kids with the love of my life.We built our home with friends and family.P&H has been good to us.

cheese......not worthy

J.C.A._3

Hey Timmie,

Some of us appreciate what you do, as much as YOU enjoy it!
Thanks . Chris

J.C.A._3

Semper Paratis!

Boot camp @ cape May,"A" school in Yorktown,(MK) First station....Montauk,N.Y. Small boats the whole 4 years!(what luck)

Finished my 4 in Newburyport, Ma., Merrimac River station.(former station of the illustrious Noel,who met his wife while there!).

Snipes RULE! Bilge rats,my bottom! If it wasn't for us, they'd all be adrift somewnere. Chris