Would the men of 1950 be more mechanically savvy in fixing the family cars of 1950's then the men of 2013 . Examples: engine rebuilding, tuneups, trannys, radiator replacements, fenders, bumpers, etc.
1950 vs 2013
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Cars are more complicated today than they were in the past.
Also, there was a lot more hands-on trades going on in the 1950s.
A man who can hang off the side of a ship and weld all day was probably a lot less nervous around a ratchet than someone who studies high math.
I don't expect anyone to be able to work on a car today.
Most people don't work menial jobs and have enough to afford a house with a small garage while the wife cooks and cleans.
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
Also, there was a lot more hands-on trades going on in the 1950s.
A man who can hang off the side of a ship and weld all day was probably a lot less nervous around a ratchet than someone who studies high math.
I don't expect anyone to be able to work on a car today.
Most people don't work menial jobs and have enough to afford a house with a small garage while the wife cooks and cleans.
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
I would say on average heck yeah. Most men today couldn't repair a 50's car or a 2013. Men use to do more maintenance and repairs on their own cars as they need more maintenance and repair and special tools and training wasn't as necessary. More men did skilled labor work back then.
Although today you do have a lot of shady tree mechanics and the internet helping them through it.
Although today you do have a lot of shady tree mechanics and the internet helping them through it.
Men of the 50's would be far better in my opinion. They most likely had been in the service for WWII and had much more mechanical ability than most guys today.
My dad talked of replacing rod or main bearings in a model (?) Ford along side the road.
Now I'd like to see the avg. guy do the same in a like engine today.
Most today can't even sharpen their own lawn mower blade.
Now I'd like to see the avg. guy do the same in a like engine today.
Most today can't even sharpen their own lawn mower blade.
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Although today you do have a lot of shady tree mechanics and the internet helping them through it.
This is a great point.
The Internet really is "the great equalizer" - all of the tips and tricks that a 1950's mechanic would spend a lifetime learning are available to anyone on demand.
Harbor Freight is the other great equalizer. Three or four weeks worth of labor at minimum wage will buy everything a shade tree mechanic needs for a well equipped shop - from ratchets and wrenches, to air tools, welding equipment, a shop crane, etc.
These kinds of tools were completely out of reach for the average man in 1950.
The percentage of men who work on their own cars may be declining, but the capabilities (affodable tools + readily obtainable knowledge) of those of us who choose to do it far exceeds what was obtainable for the average man in 1950.
Although today you do have a lot of shady tree mechanics and the internet helping them through it.
This is a great point.
The Internet really is "the great equalizer" - all of the tips and tricks that a 1950's mechanic would spend a lifetime learning are available to anyone on demand.
Harbor Freight is the other great equalizer. Three or four weeks worth of labor at minimum wage will buy everything a shade tree mechanic needs for a well equipped shop - from ratchets and wrenches, to air tools, welding equipment, a shop crane, etc.
These kinds of tools were completely out of reach for the average man in 1950.
The percentage of men who work on their own cars may be declining, but the capabilities (affodable tools + readily obtainable knowledge) of those of us who choose to do it far exceeds what was obtainable for the average man in 1950.
Originally Posted By: Falken
Cars are more complicated today than they were in the past.
Also, there was a lot more hands-on trades going on in the 1950s.
A man who can hang off the side of a ship and weld all day was probably a lot less nervous around a ratchet than someone who studies high math.
I don't expect anyone to be able to work on a car today.
Most people don't work menial jobs and have enough to afford a house with a small garage while the wife cooks and cleans.
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
In every way better.
If you want, go live in a polio ridden women beating Corrupt 3rd world country to remind you of "The good old days".
Im sure there still are some around.
Cars are more complicated today than they were in the past.
Also, there was a lot more hands-on trades going on in the 1950s.
A man who can hang off the side of a ship and weld all day was probably a lot less nervous around a ratchet than someone who studies high math.
I don't expect anyone to be able to work on a car today.
Most people don't work menial jobs and have enough to afford a house with a small garage while the wife cooks and cleans.
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
In every way better.
If you want, go live in a polio ridden women beating Corrupt 3rd world country to remind you of "The good old days".
Im sure there still are some around.
Originally Posted By: Falken
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
Lots of folks would disagree with you there...especially minorities.
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
Lots of folks would disagree with you there...especially minorities.
Men of the 1950s would likely be more adept with mechanical skills like engine rebuilding, tune-ups, transmission repair etc....
But give them a TV, surround sound, PS3, computer....etc...and tell them to connect all these things at they would be lost.
The skill set has changed. That is certain.
But give them a TV, surround sound, PS3, computer....etc...and tell them to connect all these things at they would be lost.
The skill set has changed. That is certain.
Originally Posted By: jcwit
My dad talked of replacing rod or main bearings in a model (?) Ford along side the road.
Now I'd like to see the avg. guy do the same in a like engine today.
Most today can't even sharpen their own lawn mower blade.
Good thing most cars of today would never NEED to have rod bearings changed out on the side of the road.
My dad talked of replacing rod or main bearings in a model (?) Ford along side the road.
Now I'd like to see the avg. guy do the same in a like engine today.
Most today can't even sharpen their own lawn mower blade.
Good thing most cars of today would never NEED to have rod bearings changed out on the side of the road.
Mr. James May had a similar thought http://www.topgear.com/uk/james-may/james-may-on-DIY-2011-10-21
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Mechanics are a term from the past. Mechanical gears, adjustable timing and carburetor, basic wiring, nuts and bolts. Today the term is "technician" with complex computers running the engine.
Things were very simple back then,most all cars were put together the same way.Didnt take much to learn one car and apply that to all (except VW/Porsche).Think Gomer Pyle.He made it at Wallys Garage in Mayberry,but would never make it today at any dealership.
Originally Posted By: 123Saab
Originally Posted By: Falken
Cars are more complicated today than they were in the past.
Also, there was a lot more hands-on trades going on in the 1950s.
A man who can hang off the side of a ship and weld all day was probably a lot less nervous around a ratchet than someone who studies high math.
I don't expect anyone to be able to work on a car today.
Most people don't work menial jobs and have enough to afford a house with a small garage while the wife cooks and cleans.
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
In every way better.
If you want, go live in a polio ridden women beating Corrupt 3rd world country to remind you of "The good old days".
Im sure there still are some around.
You left out racially segregated.
Originally Posted By: Falken
Cars are more complicated today than they were in the past.
Also, there was a lot more hands-on trades going on in the 1950s.
A man who can hang off the side of a ship and weld all day was probably a lot less nervous around a ratchet than someone who studies high math.
I don't expect anyone to be able to work on a car today.
Most people don't work menial jobs and have enough to afford a house with a small garage while the wife cooks and cleans.
Society is just different today, and in no way better.
In every way better.
If you want, go live in a polio ridden women beating Corrupt 3rd world country to remind you of "The good old days".
Im sure there still are some around.
You left out racially segregated.
Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
Would the men of 1950 be more mechanically savvy in fixing the family cars of 1950's then the men of 2013 . Examples: engine rebuilding, tuneups, trannys, radiator replacements, fenders, bumpers, etc.
Yes, I think the average 1950s man would be more likely to perform basic repair on a 1950s car than a modern man would be on a modern car.
But could a 1950s man diagnose and repair a 2013 car? No way.
Would the men of 1950 be more mechanically savvy in fixing the family cars of 1950's then the men of 2013 . Examples: engine rebuilding, tuneups, trannys, radiator replacements, fenders, bumpers, etc.
Yes, I think the average 1950s man would be more likely to perform basic repair on a 1950s car than a modern man would be on a modern car.
But could a 1950s man diagnose and repair a 2013 car? No way.
^^This^^ I'm not that old (49), but I can remember when there was a Sohio or other service station on every other corner, changing points and plugs, rebuilding carburetors, mounting/repairing tires, and other simple, low end auto jobs. They're about 95% gone now, the simple stuff really doesn't need done much (no more carbs or points), tires now last 40-50K (instead of the 10-15K that the bias ply tires did)-many new vehicles need an engineer more than a "mechanic".
Vehicles of the 1950's were a pleasure to work on. My first car was a 1955 Chevy station wagon that I bought in 1970. Even the owners manual of that era was full of detailed instructions, with photo's and diagrams, for working on and maintaining your vehicle.
A 1950's mechanic placed into a 2013 world would be LOST!
First off, there is no room in the engine compartment to work on a 2013 vs a 1955 vehicle. To repair and maintain a vehicle of 2013 would cost a fortune with the specialized computer tools and hand tools needed for repairing your vehicle. Today's vehicles entail removing multitudes of working items just to replace the worn item.
IMO....a 1950's mechanic put into 2013 would be shocked to see all of the US Automobile manufacturers that have gone under and no longer exist.
America, unfortunately, has a habit of continually shooting itself in the foot, with outsourcing and "planned" obsolescence when manufacturing vehicles after the 1960's. A 1950's mechanic would be shocked at how far down the ladder America has fallen with Automobile manufacturing.
America can put a man on the moon but could not, or would not, produce quality vehicles after the 1960's.
Now America has trouble manufacturing a quality automotive product that is easy to work on and with parts readily available. Now, we have a hard time producing a quality product for our citizens at a fair price.
Trying to compare the 1950's vs 2013 vehicles is like comparing the "Stone Age" to the "industrial revolution" of the last century.
A 1950's mechanic placed into a 2013 world would be LOST!
First off, there is no room in the engine compartment to work on a 2013 vs a 1955 vehicle. To repair and maintain a vehicle of 2013 would cost a fortune with the specialized computer tools and hand tools needed for repairing your vehicle. Today's vehicles entail removing multitudes of working items just to replace the worn item.
IMO....a 1950's mechanic put into 2013 would be shocked to see all of the US Automobile manufacturers that have gone under and no longer exist.
America, unfortunately, has a habit of continually shooting itself in the foot, with outsourcing and "planned" obsolescence when manufacturing vehicles after the 1960's. A 1950's mechanic would be shocked at how far down the ladder America has fallen with Automobile manufacturing.
America can put a man on the moon but could not, or would not, produce quality vehicles after the 1960's.
Now America has trouble manufacturing a quality automotive product that is easy to work on and with parts readily available. Now, we have a hard time producing a quality product for our citizens at a fair price.
Trying to compare the 1950's vs 2013 vehicles is like comparing the "Stone Age" to the "industrial revolution" of the last century.
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Back then almost every gas station had a mechanic on duty. If the men of the 50's were such great mechanics why were there so many shops?
I do think the technicians of today are different from the mechanics of yesteryear. As an example, back then a mechanic would take a starter/alternator/distributor apart and repair it. Now a days you change the entire component and move on to the next job. How many younger technicians today know what a Sun distributor tester or Sun analyzer even looks like.
I do think the technicians of today are different from the mechanics of yesteryear. As an example, back then a mechanic would take a starter/alternator/distributor apart and repair it. Now a days you change the entire component and move on to the next job. How many younger technicians today know what a Sun distributor tester or Sun analyzer even looks like.
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