General Electric History: The Shop Apprenticeship System for Boys - Drafting Course

[This is taken from pp. 21-24 of The Shop Apprenticeship System for Boys, a 52-page booklet published in 1917. Photographs are presented at original and 4x enlarged size.]

[One of the Drafting Sections - 1x | 4x]

DRAFTING COURSE

The draftsman is closely associated with engineering problems, therefore his work is not only highly important but is indispensable in mechanical work. He must be able to convert the ideas of the designing engineer into practical form for use in the shops where the machines are to be built. This requires great accuracy as poor drawings are not only annoying to use but very often entail considerable expense.

The Drafting Course is laid out with the idea of giving the apprentice an opportunity of coming into contact with the practical things relating to manufacturing and the course of study is intended to develop his reasoning ability and acquaint him with subjects contributing to his work. These include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, strength of materials, and elementary mechanics.

The Drafting Course covers a period of four (4) years. Each year consists of 2250 hours, with the exception of the second year, which is spent in the shops. This consists of 2537 hours. The first year is spent by the apprentices in the Blue Print and Tracing Departments. The second year is spent in the shops doing mechanical work in machine shops, foundry, and pattern shops. The third and fourth years are spent in the drafting departments. During the fourth year two weeks are spent in the Physical Testing Laboratory.

[Drafting Apprentice Operating a 48-inch Boring Mill as Part of his Shop Training - 1x | 4x]

COMPENSATION FOR DRAFTSMEN DURING APPRENTICESHIP

First year    11c. per hour
Second year   13 1/4c. per hour
Third year    15c. per hour
Fourth year   18 1/2c. per hour

On completion of the first year's work, if the record is good in conduct and work, and schedule of class work has been met, a special cash premium will be allowed for the second year, and each succeeding year the same plan will apply; making it possible for the Drafting Apprentice to add each week to his earnings from 50c. to $1.55.

On successfully completing the four-year course a certificate and cash bonus of $100 are given.

[Here the booklet is stamped with:]

During the continuation of the war the rates per hour will be
1st yr. 16c. 2nd yr. 19c. 3rd yr. 24c. 4th yr. 30c.

SCHEDULE OF CLASSROOM WORK FOR DRAFTSMEN

MATHEMATICS SCHEDULE

• FIRST YEAR
  • Algebra
    • I. Definitions, Positive and Negative Numbers. Algebraic Expressions, Fundamental Processes - 3 mo.
    • II. Fundamental Processes, Simple Equation, Special Products - 3 mo.
    • III. Factoring, Greatest Common Divisor, Least Common Multiple, Fractions begun - 3 mo.
    • IV. Fractions Completed, Ratio, Simultaneous Equations - 3 mo. Shop Problems.
• SECOND YEAR
  • Algebra
    • V. Graphs, Powers, Roots, Radicals - 3 mo.
    • VI. Quadratics, Exponents, Logarithms - 3 mo.
    • Shop Problems.
  • Plane Geometry
    • I. Rectilinear Figures - 3 mo.
    • II. Similar Triangles and Circles - 3 mo.
    • Practical Problems.
• THIRD YEAR
  • Plane Geometry
    • II. Metrical Relations and Constructions, Applications and Review, Practical Problems - 3 mo.
  • Solid Geometry
    • Lines and Planes in Space - 1 mo.
    • Polyhedrons - 1 mo.
    • Cylinder, Cone, Sphere, Review - 1 mo.
    • Shop Problems.
  • Trigonometry
    • I.
      • Functions of Acute Angles - 1 mo.
      • Tables, Solution of Right Triangle - 2 mo.
    • II.
      • Goniometry - 1 mo.
      • Solution of Oblique Triangle - 2 mo.
    • Practical Problems.
  • Descriptive Geometry
    • I. Fundamentals, Straight Lines and Planes - 3 mo.
• FOURTH YEAR
  • Descriptive Geometry
    • II. Problems in Curved Surfaces - 3 mo.
  • Mechanics
    • Composition and Resolution of Forces and Velocities - 1 mo.
    • I.
      • Concurrent Forces - 1 mo.
      • Moments - 1 mo.
      • Practical Problems.
      • Motion - 1 mo.
    • II.
      • Work, Power and Energy - 1 mo.
      • The General Laws of Machines - 1 mo.
  • Strength of Materials and Laboratory Work
    • Definitions and General Properties of Materials - 1 mo.
    • I.
      • Moments for Beams - Investigation and Design of Beams - 1 mo.
      • Column or Struts - 1 mo.
      • Practical Problems.
      • Shafts - 1 mo.
    • II.
      • Elastic Deformations - Concrete - 1 mo.
      • Combined Stresses - Applications - 1 mo.

Updated 6/25/01

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