One of my favourite things....

is learning how things are made.  

Several years ago, I went to a company in Stanton owned by Chris Fielder and his partners.  They invented, made, and distributed world-wide the first machine which would open a flat-pack card-board box of any size, line it with a plastic bag (if the customer needed it), then fill the box with the product (it was rice cereal when I was there), seal the liner bag, then close and seal the box.  I was fascinated. 

A flat card-board box, about 1 metre square, was fed into one end of the machine.  It opened the box up, folded in the  bottom sections and sealed them with tape.  Next, the liner bag was inserted, machine arms delicately opened the bag, fitted it neatly into the corners, folded the top of the liner bag over the top of the box and pulled the plastic smoothly down the outside.  The cereal was poured into the box until it was nearly full; the top of the liner bag was pulled up and heat sealed; the sides of the box were folded down; the box was taped shut, and a shipping label slapped on.  Zip, Zip, Zip and it was ready for shipment.  It was so neat.

Chris was a little amused when I asked him to run it again, but he did it.  The third request was refused, as he explained that they used the cereal to demonstrate the machine (did I mention that this was the the first of its kind in the World?), and he did not want to waste it.  What a treat that morning was for me.

In February I had another treat of learning how something is made.  I met a man who makes electric guitars.  How exciting is that?  I knew nothing about how these are made.  I asked if I could see his workshop, but, to my disappointment, that was not possible.  He could, though, take me to his Showroom.  Fantastic.

The room was almost wall to wall guitars of all shapes, sizes, colours and finishes.  Some looked like weathered barn siding, others were polished to a see-your-face shine.  All are wooden.  Actually, they are solid wood.  I did not expect that.  And they are heavy!  Anyone doing an hour on stage with one of these beauties has to be strong.  

My new friend explained how the sound was made and sent through the electrical hook-up.  Then he demonstrated the difference in tone from one guitar to another.  I was asking a new question almost before he answered the last one.  His enthusiasm and pride in his creations was delightful.  I went on my way, finally, with a big smile on my face.  What an unexpected treat I had had.  I will be looking for his instruments every time I see an electric guitar.

With love, Linda