5-15-08

EDMUND FITZGERALD FLAG SHIP

MEMORIES OF WORKING IN THE MACHINE SHOP
AT GREAT- LAKES ENGINEERING SHIP YARD.

WRITTEN BY FRED HOLLISTER SR. 1956/1958

Our day started around 6:30 am, meeting in the lunch room in the machine shop telling story's and talking about the parts we were working on.

I worked with another machinist name Hank Burnard, on the Horizontal Boring Mill, machining what is called the Stern Tub. The Stern Tub is a casting approx. three feet in diameter and Five feet long, which will carry the Ships Propeller Shaft.

Hank and I also Machined the Ships Propeller Shaft which is also a large casting approx. twenty feet long and 12 to 14 inches in Diameter using a large Lathe. This shaft was so important that when we got to the finishing cuts on the shaft, We worked 24-hour shifts.

Heating and pouring Babbitt Metal, was another important job. The Temperature was very critical, around 700/850 Degrees, I remember having to use a White Pine stick to check the Temperature, when the stick turned brown, the Babbitt was ready to pour into the mould, which was then machined into a bearing.

In conclusion all the guy's were excellent machinist and a nice group of guys to work with.

Thank You.
Fred

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