[rotorwrench]

Times have changed a lot since I was a kid. I guess the first thing is an interest in machinery and what makes it tick. Older machinery from the simpler times in the early 20th century has a historical ring to it that really caught my eye when I was young. The simplicity makes learning easier for someone with no real experience. It certainly makes a project seem to be one that will not take too much time or money to complete. I learned from several people that were at least a generation ahead of me. I could see how much fun was had by driving the old flivers around. They catch a lot of attention. If it weren't for that, I may not have gravitated toward the aviation career that I chose or the interest in all things old. My interest was in antique machines long before I learned mechanics and built up my tooling assets.

I'm sure that young folks that gravitate toward auto, marine, aircraft, agricultural, or industrial maintenance or design had similar interests that were inspired by folks that owned the older machines. We all learned by watching someone or reading a lot about such subjects. Henry Ford was inspired by the old steam powered equipment of his day.