The West Side Y.M.C.A. Airplane School Notebook from 1918

AVIATION

Published by Y.M.C.A. Training School, New York, 1918

About this Item

Octavo. Three ring notebook filled with unlined loose-leaf paper. Handwritten notes made by unknown author. Date on first notes paper is Sept. 7th - 1918. The student who kept this notebook included many drawings of implements and mechanical parts of airplanes. Also included in the notebook is "the Compound Nozzle Explained," a short (14 pages) pamphlet from 1915. The student punched holes and added it to his course notes. The notebook covers two courses: Airplane Motors with Professor Hall and Plane School with Mr. Chedester. In the back of the notebook there is a bibliography, a list of tools needed to apply for positions in an airplane factory, and a long list of questions the student recorded to ask after lectures. Several clippings from magazines or other sources are included throughout. The student who kept this notebook would have been well prepared for a career in the U.S. Air Service or in a factory. According to the U.S. Labor Department Training Bulletin (see below), a graduate of the Y.M.C.A. Airplane Mechanics School could expect to earn between $35 and $50 per week to start, up from $12 per week in nonessential industry. The training program lasted for 5 weeks, 6 days per week. There was also a night program that lasted for 10 weeks. "The West Side Y.M.C.A. Airplane School was established in November, 1917, with the object to supply a crying need for men with some knowledge of airplanes, both in the Air Service and in the factories. At that time the Government made a call for 10,000 airplane mechanics, who were urgently needed for this service. In all probability there were less than 1,500 mechanics in the whole country who had any experience with airplanes in the field. The Y.M.C.A. embarked upon an extensive advertising program, using newspapers, magazines, and billboards. The results were most gratifying, as the school has always had a waiting list, regardless of the increased floor space and additional capacity. Inquire for more details. Seller Inventory # 40619

Bibliographic Details

Title: The West Side Y.M.C.A. Airplane School ...

Publisher: Y.M.C.A. Training School, New York

Publication Date: 1918