This is one of the trucks I drove—the
claw at the front grabbed a bottom part
of the gigantic spools, which were on
wheels, and the spools were moved
from station to station in the
manufacturing process.
I worked with these guys at the famous
Hawthorne plant of Western Electric the
summer after high school. I didn’t start this
sketchbook though ’til I was in college, so
obviously I returned to the plant to visit (unlikely)
or I worked over semester break. It was the
night shift and I drove forklifts and other cool
propane powered vehicles, moving gigantic
spools of cables from station to station. I
got the job, I’m sure, because my awesome
great-uncle Les was a mucky-muck at WE.
I recently learned this fraternity brother
died last year. He was quite a character
and I am grateful to him for having once
driven to Danville to pick up Brett, Randy
& I, stranded, hitchhiking from Nashville.
Decorative elements in the room next
door…I think the furry pelt on top of
the fridge was orange….Brett and
Greenberg were the residents.
…at least that is the idea
to be painted on concrete,
but they didn’t take the bait!