As we move into the new dawn of a new year –

We – Sherry and I –

reflect back –

Since we packed up and moved in 1999 –

The company we worked for –

American Olean – Dal-Tile –

Closed the operations in Olean, N.Y. –

After 99 1/2 years of operations!

IN 2012!

We were fortunate to have transferred –

13 years before they closed the doors.

While the rest of the company –

owned by Mohawk – still operates –

They also closed the remaining factories of A.O.T. C. – except one!

Today they mostly have the brand name.

That is the picture of the past –

many fond memories for both of us –

As to when we finally retired –

We had 79 1/2 years of service for the A.O.T.C.

and Dal-Tile brand!

Today – in retirement –

I often recall those early years memories –

I spent the first six and one-half years of my employment –

Working the second shift on ten-hour days –

From 3pm. to 1 am.

We worked straight through-

taking our break “ON THE FLY”!

Those were my very early years starting on 6-05-1967.

I still see the images of the three men I worked with –

during that time on the second shift.

There was “Frosty” –

who was the lead-man leader.

There was “GEORGE” –

whom I worked with upstairs by ourselves.

The was “SHORTY” –

who worked on the main level with “FROSTY”!

Our department was large – –

almost four stories high.

George and I worked on the third level.

It was a job in which I had to weigh up the product-

on a large scale –

Almost 1200-pound batches with five different ingredients.

The scales were stainless steel –

and each ingredient was like talcum powder.

All done by valves –

and air pressure.

A state-of-the-art production system-

that was installed a few years before I came to work there.

There were three systems – NORTH – SOUTH and EAST.

So we were doing three different products at the same time.

I also would start them up-

and with a power dump – put the stain or color into them.

The scales would run for 12 minutes –

with a large screw that would mix the powered clay together.

This would then empty out and go through an elevator –

to what they called THE GAYCO SEPARATOR.

I then would put the stain into what we called a mixer or blender and the clay body would flow into that.

I had 12 minutes between each batch –

and would use that time to clean up –

remove stains from an overhead conveyor –

And keep my area neat.

I had a chair that I could sit in –

and watch the big panel that was lit up and showed each stage of the process.

Red – Green and White and Yellow lights told me the different stages.

We would do color changes during the shift – –

Sometimes 2 or 3 and that would require –

full clean-ups with air- water, and vacuums.

During those times we kept the opposite systems going –

And as you can imagine –

it was a dusty operation during clean-ups!

There were times during the ten-hour shifts-

we did not have any clean-ups –

And once I got everything caught up –

I would sit right there –

and read while watching the panel.

I became sensitive to the changes –

in sounds from the equipment-

and from watching the panel –

to spot any malfunction –

and correct it!

I will write another blog on my time at the OLEAN TILE PLANT –

From 1967 to 1999 before I transferred.

Moving forward into a new year –

looking to the future with family and friends.

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog