Old-timey woodworkers

Vintage covers of Popular Science and other science/mechanical/do-it-yourself magazines are fascinatingly entertaining. 

I especially enjoy how ridiculous a lot of the illustrations are when it comes to things like accuracy, safety, and how people think things actually take place.

Look at the two covers below from the early 1920s – over a century ago – and follow along as I dissect what’s going on.

On the left is, apparently, a worksite or shop. The old guy with the bow saw is amazed at his young friend’s new-fangled machine, and is probably muttering something like, “Gosh all fishhooks, will you take a look at that!” On closer examination, there are lots of things going wrong here.

The cord, with no plug, seems directly wired into the wall and dangles right over of the saw’s drive belt. That circular pull handle appears to be exactly in line with, and just inches from, the blade’s teeth. If you look closely, the blade is cutting in what I consider the wrong direction – it’s spinning up out the work and not down into it, further evidenced by the fact that the sawdust is flying up. Thank goodness the worker turned his head completely to the side to chat with the fishhook guy while he works, so no chance of getting sawdust in his eyes.

Finally, what’s up with the dog? Looks to be ready to jump up and get turned into sausages at any moment. Probably waiting for another finger to fly his way.

In the other cover, we see the classic home woodworker in full suit, vest and tie. If old magazines are any indication, that is how all home woodworkers dressed back then. Their children, too, obviously. The only thing missing is that he’s not smoking a pipe. The woodworker, I mean.

Speaking of the kid, what’s happening here? Is dad working in the yard and the kid is looking out the window, or is dad in his shop and the kid can’t find the door? Is it even his kid? My guess is that he’s looking for a missing dog.