At first glance, I really liked the Photo Contest winners. But then I looked more closely at the First Place pix, and away went its credibility. First off, the worker in front of #3751 is holding his digital calipers backwards (the display and controls facing away from him); and then, the object he’s checking is a large nut, an part that doesn’t need ten-thousandth-of-an-inch precision. If it fits the wrench, it’s good enough. Then, finally, the caption refers to the instrument as a “digital micrometer.”
I don’t think I’d hire that guy.
OK, I don’t have the issue with me to double check, but two things come to mind:
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There might be a scale on the side of the calipers that he’s looking at, and/or, he doesn’t need a measurement accurate to a thousandth. (Or just possibly, he did that to the photographer on purpose).
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Metal stretches. No knowing where the nut came from, or what its normal stresses are, I don’t know that I wouldn’t be interested in how close the nut is to what it’s supposed to be. Wouldn’t want it sliding off the end of the shaft, now.
It’s a WSD…a Willing Suspension of Disbelief as my Sophomore High School Engli***eacher was fond of saying.
I immediately tried to figure why such a precise instrument was being used on such a common part as a common nut. Aesthetically, though, the picture is interesting, and if you don’t question it too much, it’s successful.
Just my [2c].
Chris
No, he is looking at the cheat sheet on the back.
I have one of those digital dial calipers, the exact same one, in fact…(micrometer is a different tool, they look like a small C clamp))
It is a dual scale digital caliper, measures in decimals and metric…on the back is a chart to convert the decimal to fractions…250 to 1/4"…I do the exact same thing every time I measure something…math challenged.
I doubt its posed…look at the guys hands…that aint just a little grease he wiped on for the photo…thats the honest to goodness ground into every cuticle and finger nail grime off of something…trust me, your basic bar of Lava aint getting his hands clean!
Ed
While I can’t argue the points on accuracy of the photos, they show people in railroading.
I also can’t speak for those judging the contest, I can tell you the era of the “roster shot” is pretty much over for the publication as they do want the “people side” of railroading in their choices. Look for more people and less trains.
This is my impression but think you’ll find over the long haul it will be correct.
Dale