Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 85

of the Institute except for labor. The Principal was to be consulted concerning hours of attendance, but students were to be received into the shop by the superintendent, and their names reported to the trustees and Principal. Thus the dual control system suggested in Washburn's letter of instructions was inaugurated.

Salisbury resigned from the shop committee early in 1869, and Moen succeeded him. L. J. Knowles and W. W. Rice replaced Whitcomb and Moen two years later, and the committee had but three members after Blake's death. One of the major problems directly after Mr. Washburn's death was to settle with the administrators of the estate and to protect the Institute's rights therein. The amount agreed upon as being necessary for completion and equipment of the shop was $15,000. Mr. Washburn had also guaranteed to pay interest on the $50,000 endowment and on the $5,000 working capital. The principal amount of these bequests was not received until 1873, but interest in excess of $8,000 was paid by the estate. This interest, the working capital, and the $15,000 completion fund were all consumed for equipment and current expenses, and to repay a small additional amount borrowed from the Institute.

One of the first articles chosen for manufacture in the shop was an adjustable drawing-stand for artists, engineers, and students. This stand was immediately popular and remained so for over sixty years, during which period thousands of stands were marketed, no major change having been made in the design. There were also produced in the wood shop sets of drawing models designed by Walter Smith, director of art education in Massachusetts. These models were used in Institute classes and were sold to schools throughout the country.

The first large machine made in the iron shop was a 16-inch lathe with hardened steel bearings, spindle and belt cone. It was a sturdy and accurate tool that competed favorably with other lathes of its day. Another excellent product was a light speed-lathe, with a 9-inch swing and fixtures for screw

webmaster@wpi.edu

Last Modified: Fri Jul 30 11:15:25 EDT 1999