Masonry Magazine September 1964 Page. 21
over the next ten years. This area is the entry of new products and methods. As you are aware, there has been little change in the way in which blocks and bricks have been put in place over the last thirty years. Although there have been some labor-saving devices, they have been very few. You can compare your business with, say that of a barber, who as his necessity for personal funds has increased, has increased the price of haircuts, and as the cost of labor goes up, the price of his product goes up. Now contrast this to say the telephone company as a comparison, which over the years has automated its business to such an extent that your phone bill today is very little different from what it was thirty years ago, and may even be less. I have often heard said that if telephones were handled in the same manner as they were say thirty years ago every woman in the United States would be required to man the switchboards.
Since I have known that I was going to give this speech, I had been looking for some example that I might give to you in this area, and fortunately, on the cover of the July, 1964 issue of the Concrete Masonry magazine, published by the National Concrete Masonry Association, is a picture of a machine which puts together block walls, and these transported to job sites in an already completed unit. Three men and this machine can do the work of seven masons and four helpers, and the time required to place an 8 x 8 x 16 block is expected to be five seconds. I would just like to read a portion of the article on this automated block laying. "Manufacturers," and in this respect they are talking about the manufacturers of block, "strive through automation and efficiency procedures to curtail rising production costs, and in some cases lower them, but are left helpless to control the end price of finished masonry because of the ever growing costs of masonry labor. The masonry trade today, as far as the mason himself is concerned, is not to blame although he is a logical whipping boy. His individual wants and needs are no more than any other construction journeyman in this day of ever rising living standards. The blame rests on the industry as a whole. Even though manufacturers have automated all phases of material handling and production and contractors purchase all the necessary equipment available to efficiently mix and convey mortar, and handle masonry units, and the mason has excellent apprenticeship programs and the best tools money can buy, all have in effect closed their eyes, except in a few isolated cases, to the manner in which masonry is placed in the wall, and said this is the only way it can be done."
You can see from reading this portion of the article, a glance of what is to come. If a machine can be made which will prefabricate block panels, it can also be done with brick, and other building material. Manholes, which for most of the past have been either poured concrete or brick, are now being made in pre-
RAISE UP TO 1000 lbs.
160 ft. IN 60 SECONDS
Wheelbarrows full of mortar or concrete, pallets of masonry block or bricks, tools and many other building materials can be raised quickly and safely on the new Aeroil 1000 lb. Monorail Hoist.
CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO
THREE PARTS FOR EASY HOISTING
TO THE WORK AREA AND EASE OF
ASSEMBLY
LOAD IS RAISED, PULLED IN AND
DEPOSITED ON THE DECK BY THE
HOIST
Write for Bulletin HO-1 for detailed information and prices.
AEROIL PRODUCTS
COMPANY
69 Wesley St.,
South Hackensack N.J.
MASONRY
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September, 1964
21