In 1977, I decided to take Auto shop an elective offered at Culver High. When I got to registration, I firmly requested “Auto shop.” The middle-aged woman clerk took a step back. She sized me up for a minute and then shook her finger at me… She went to the back, squabbled a bit with the administrators, and put her foot down. She then returned and proudly exclaimed “You’re In!” I feel she wanted me to be a poster girl for Women’s Lib, but honestly, all I wanted to do was learn to fix a flat tire. This nice lady took a stand for me that day, like if they turned me down, she would burn her bra in protest.
A friend let me use their uncle’s old coveralls for class. He must have been one big guy, because they were so baggy, but they were mine now, already broken in with grease stains.
Our first task was to disassemble a Bendix brake. Every time I tried, a boy would grab it from me and the gentleman in him would say “Here, let me do that for you.” So, I never learned that skill. Anyway, brakes don’t get rebuilt anymore, since around 1990 when China made it cheaper to throw them in the garbage and put in new parts to save on labor.
I also remember cleaning old parts in solvent with a wire brush but no matter how hard you scrubbed; they never looked any cleaner. Until one day Mr. Andrade secretly let me dunk mine in carburetor cleaner overnight and what a shiny sparkling difference it made. I didn’t tell the guys and just sneaked it back under the dirty solvent where all of us were toiling away. When I took it out, I said, “finally finished.” You should have seen their faces. “How did you get it so clean?” “Elbow grease! Just keep at it!” It cracks me up to this day.
Since that era, Electives are not offered like they used to be. It’s a little sad. Back in the day kids had the opportunity to learn real life skills, like woodshop, metal shop or cooking! Of course, some skills became obsolete. I still don’t know why I had to memorize the firing order of a 350 Chevy, but I’ll never forget it. Just in case…
