robert campbell
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2007
- Messages
- 4,321
All,
I made a jet run down to Vancouver Washington to meet Tim (Midnight Special) for a late lunch yesterday. Maiden voyage for the new blower motor on a long trip (3 hours each way). Very hot for Washington standards, 90 degrees. Car was absolutely flawless! 80 miles an hour is about 2,600 RPM and I flew down and back. All the windows down. Think I lost some hearing. Enough about that.
Got to meet Tim. He was working a symposium for “glass blowing” which his company, Litton Industries, is a heavy player. Yep, I am sure you have the same mental picture that I did before arriving. A guy with a long steel tube, blowing into it with a large lump of molten glass on the end… It is a bit more than that…..
His company builds industrial and hobbyist lathes for the manufacture of scientific and artistic glass needs. The lathes are used in the science world of glass construction that is mind boggling. There is a huge demand for all sorts of chemist beakers, test tubes and the sort. But not just run of the mill sizes. Many high tech industries need specifically designed "one off" glass containers. But not just a bottle or a beaker. They need containers with glass tubes inside of glass tubes. Perfectly centered and fused into one unit on the ends. I just barely saw the surface of what they needed. One attendee was representing the department of energy that constructs the fuel rods for nuclear reactors.
This is where Litton comes in. They manufacture the lathes that allow an ultra experienced “glass manufacturing technician” to cut, shape, and join glass. The lathes are two engine, two chuck, precision/purpose lathes for creation and construction of “one off” high tech science needs. They allow attachment of all sorts of oxygen/acetylene burning heads. And these heads are outfitted with an array of plumbing proportioning valve needs to ensure the proper mixture of gases for large and small jobs. They literally weld glass together in the hands of a skilled technician. Tim taught a class on the proper maintenance of the lathes and the fine tuning of their alignment to maintain optimum tolerances.
It was truly fascinating to watch the demonstrations put on. They formed bevels on glass tubes. Fused tubes inside tubes with perfectly centered washers on the ends. Glass as I learned is not a perfect piece of stock and the technician uses flame proof tape as shims to gain perfect “runout” to ensure tolerances are met. I, like most of you, thought machines did this work, but these special glass applications are constructed by these highly skilled craftsman one at a time. I will never look at a piece of glass the same!!
It was fun to watch Tim in this professional setting. He is very reserved and quiet. Fully armed with over 30 years of experience but is tactful and patient with an expert as well as a beginner. His biggest strength was that of a careful listener. That is a huge trait in all aspects of life!! Let the person articulate the question without interruption. In this articulation you may find yourself completely changing how you respond. It was impressive to listen to the conversations of these people. Most very unassuming in dress. Dressing does not make the man!
Tim and I shared a burger at the end of the day. He showed off my car like it was some show queen. A couple of the attendees appreciated old cars. It was great. I drove him up to an old family haunt that has pushed burgers since the 40’s. I never pass the chance to go to the Steakburger in Hazell Dell Washington. Great burgers at fair prices. Tim must have taken 30 or more pictures. Dumb Rob forgot his camera….
We got to chat and learn each others stories on cars and life. I had already made a new friend from a distance, but now cemented in person. The cars we love and own are just a "vehicle" to meet genuine people in life. Tim is one of those people. Warm, friendly, unassuming, and humble. Appreciative of your car and the work you have done. He centers on the positive. That would best describe Tim. A positive person in your hobby and life!
Thanks, Tim, for a great afternoon and for the chance to see a niche in an industry little known in the world to expand my knowledge. I had a great time!!!
Rob
I made a jet run down to Vancouver Washington to meet Tim (Midnight Special) for a late lunch yesterday. Maiden voyage for the new blower motor on a long trip (3 hours each way). Very hot for Washington standards, 90 degrees. Car was absolutely flawless! 80 miles an hour is about 2,600 RPM and I flew down and back. All the windows down. Think I lost some hearing. Enough about that.
Got to meet Tim. He was working a symposium for “glass blowing” which his company, Litton Industries, is a heavy player. Yep, I am sure you have the same mental picture that I did before arriving. A guy with a long steel tube, blowing into it with a large lump of molten glass on the end… It is a bit more than that…..
His company builds industrial and hobbyist lathes for the manufacture of scientific and artistic glass needs. The lathes are used in the science world of glass construction that is mind boggling. There is a huge demand for all sorts of chemist beakers, test tubes and the sort. But not just run of the mill sizes. Many high tech industries need specifically designed "one off" glass containers. But not just a bottle or a beaker. They need containers with glass tubes inside of glass tubes. Perfectly centered and fused into one unit on the ends. I just barely saw the surface of what they needed. One attendee was representing the department of energy that constructs the fuel rods for nuclear reactors.
This is where Litton comes in. They manufacture the lathes that allow an ultra experienced “glass manufacturing technician” to cut, shape, and join glass. The lathes are two engine, two chuck, precision/purpose lathes for creation and construction of “one off” high tech science needs. They allow attachment of all sorts of oxygen/acetylene burning heads. And these heads are outfitted with an array of plumbing proportioning valve needs to ensure the proper mixture of gases for large and small jobs. They literally weld glass together in the hands of a skilled technician. Tim taught a class on the proper maintenance of the lathes and the fine tuning of their alignment to maintain optimum tolerances.
It was truly fascinating to watch the demonstrations put on. They formed bevels on glass tubes. Fused tubes inside tubes with perfectly centered washers on the ends. Glass as I learned is not a perfect piece of stock and the technician uses flame proof tape as shims to gain perfect “runout” to ensure tolerances are met. I, like most of you, thought machines did this work, but these special glass applications are constructed by these highly skilled craftsman one at a time. I will never look at a piece of glass the same!!
It was fun to watch Tim in this professional setting. He is very reserved and quiet. Fully armed with over 30 years of experience but is tactful and patient with an expert as well as a beginner. His biggest strength was that of a careful listener. That is a huge trait in all aspects of life!! Let the person articulate the question without interruption. In this articulation you may find yourself completely changing how you respond. It was impressive to listen to the conversations of these people. Most very unassuming in dress. Dressing does not make the man!
Tim and I shared a burger at the end of the day. He showed off my car like it was some show queen. A couple of the attendees appreciated old cars. It was great. I drove him up to an old family haunt that has pushed burgers since the 40’s. I never pass the chance to go to the Steakburger in Hazell Dell Washington. Great burgers at fair prices. Tim must have taken 30 or more pictures. Dumb Rob forgot his camera….
We got to chat and learn each others stories on cars and life. I had already made a new friend from a distance, but now cemented in person. The cars we love and own are just a "vehicle" to meet genuine people in life. Tim is one of those people. Warm, friendly, unassuming, and humble. Appreciative of your car and the work you have done. He centers on the positive. That would best describe Tim. A positive person in your hobby and life!
Thanks, Tim, for a great afternoon and for the chance to see a niche in an industry little known in the world to expand my knowledge. I had a great time!!!
Rob
