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Re: Cabinet Shop/Mill Location In These Pictures
Author: RIP Key Route Ken
Date: 12-07-2020 - 20:48
jed747 Wrote:
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> My Grandfather was the last Master Cabinetmaker
> employed at the Oakland Shops by the SP. When I
> was in grade school my Father took me to the yards
> to visit him and to specifically see a four
> wheeled rubber tired hoist that was used to lift
> the trailers off the cars.
>
> I remember spending a few hours with him in the
> shop/mill it was dark and empty of activity by
> then. All the machinery was still in the shop but
> only my Grandfather and a helper. For some reason
> I remember to this day that his helper was a man
> about his age and was from the painters trade.
> Actually I recall my Grandfather saying the
> gentleman was the last Master Cabinet Finisher in
> the shops. By this time except for the rare one
> off piece of furniture for One Market or to repair
> some station furniture they were making crossing
> arms. I watched them make and paint some arms that
> day. Almost all the joints were doweled and glued,
> very few mechanical fasteners. I also recall them
> showing me a roll of Scotch 3M reflective tape
> that was soon to be used on the crossing arms,
> replacing the hand painted work.
>
> I know a few years later my Grandfather retired
> and within weeks he told me the shops were razed
> as part of a union agreement that his position and
> that of the cabinet finisher would not be
> replaced. I guess maybe their work was sent to the
> general shops in Sacramento or farmed out.
>
> Can someone please point out on one of the photos
> exactly where the wood shops where located and
> approximately when they were razed. I have gone to
> the library at CSRM looking for pictures and/or
> information on the wood shops at Oakland and have
> come up empty handed they had nothing. I have
> thought about going to the union and seeing if
> they have anything like the years he was employed
> by SP but I don't know which union he would have
> belonged to at that time.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help and have a nice
> day
>
> John
These are the kind of questions Key Route Ken would have been good at. Miss ya Ken.
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> My Grandfather was the last Master Cabinetmaker
> employed at the Oakland Shops by the SP. When I
> was in grade school my Father took me to the yards
> to visit him and to specifically see a four
> wheeled rubber tired hoist that was used to lift
> the trailers off the cars.
>
> I remember spending a few hours with him in the
> shop/mill it was dark and empty of activity by
> then. All the machinery was still in the shop but
> only my Grandfather and a helper. For some reason
> I remember to this day that his helper was a man
> about his age and was from the painters trade.
> Actually I recall my Grandfather saying the
> gentleman was the last Master Cabinet Finisher in
> the shops. By this time except for the rare one
> off piece of furniture for One Market or to repair
> some station furniture they were making crossing
> arms. I watched them make and paint some arms that
> day. Almost all the joints were doweled and glued,
> very few mechanical fasteners. I also recall them
> showing me a roll of Scotch 3M reflective tape
> that was soon to be used on the crossing arms,
> replacing the hand painted work.
>
> I know a few years later my Grandfather retired
> and within weeks he told me the shops were razed
> as part of a union agreement that his position and
> that of the cabinet finisher would not be
> replaced. I guess maybe their work was sent to the
> general shops in Sacramento or farmed out.
>
> Can someone please point out on one of the photos
> exactly where the wood shops where located and
> approximately when they were razed. I have gone to
> the library at CSRM looking for pictures and/or
> information on the wood shops at Oakland and have
> come up empty handed they had nothing. I have
> thought about going to the union and seeing if
> they have anything like the years he was employed
> by SP but I don't know which union he would have
> belonged to at that time.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help and have a nice
> day
>
> John
These are the kind of questions Key Route Ken would have been good at. Miss ya Ken.
