DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Phanteur, whole no. 2, Spring 1946

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Phanteur, whole no. 2, Spring 1946

Page 3

3              P H A N T E U R           3

STREET CLEANING. Even now, there is semi-automatic equipment used for this purpose; it needs only to be developed and improved. The operation of a sprinkler truck is not an unpleasant job, is easier than many truck driving jobs.

WAITERS, WAITRESSES, AND BUSBOYS. Discounting the fact that many people actually enjoy this type of work (witness my wife, who gets a great deal of pleasure out of her job as a cocktail waitress), I should like to call your attention to a cafe in Boise, Idaho, which I visited in April, 1935. Called the Mechanafe, it was  long, narrow, two story affair, which had all the food on trays riding along an endless belt. You sat by the belt, watching the food go by, and when something came along you liked the looks of you grabbed it. It seems to me this was an excellent start.

DISHWASHING. How about disposable dishes?

JANITOR WORK. Alarge portion of this could be eliminated, perhaps, by an educational program which would inculcate people with habits of cleanliness. But self-cleaning rooms do not seem entirely outside the realms of possibility. A judicious use of compressed air and/or vacuums, dirt-proof construction (i.e., dust-tight; simple, built-in, functional furniture; rounded corners; and so on), and in many cases rooms could be fitted with automatic flushing systems which would sluice the walls and floors with some chemical cleaner. There would probably remain an inescapable residue of human work, but it should be so rarified that the use of all these gadgets would be fun.

CHAMBER-MAIDING. Disposable bedclothes might eliminate some grief. But how about strictly functional sleeping rooms? Air conditioned in such manner as to obviate all need for either bed clothes or pajamas, waterproof cabinets in which clothes and the like might be kept, beds consisting of self-inflating, pneumatic affairs which automatically adjusted to the weight of the individual or individuals occupying same (just a matter of valves and plenty of compressed air) and the whole thing sluicable by the flip of a faucet.

STORE-CLERKING. This line of work would undoubtedly appeal to many if it were adequately paid. But from present-day indications, the trend even under the profit system seems towards a mixture of serve yourself and vending machines.

STEVEDORE WORK (And other jobs involving the constant moving of heavy objects by manpower.) When one notices the material moving arrangements under the profit system, where the only motive is to cut costs, it seems difficult to doubt that all materials could be moved by machinery if it were so desired. Pumps, cranes, hoists, power trucks, straddle-bugs, monorails, derricks...the list is almost endless, even today.

MINING. It seems unlikely that there is any real need for men to go underground to work, except for occasional inspection, repair, and maintenance trips. Could not the miner of the future sit in a sunny office, watching through television the work of the remote-controlled machines he operates from a key-board in front of him? Today, much minerological and geological exploration is done by the diamond drill. Actual mining may be broken down roughly into hole-boring, laying of powder charges, blasting, shoveling up the detritus and loading it into cars, and shoring up the tunnel. Much of this could be done by making slight adaptations of existing machinery. The accomplishment of none of it seems impossible for the technology which can make a B-29 take off, make a 3000 mile trip, drop bombs, and land--all without a crew aboard.

SANDHOGGING. Adaptations of futuristic mining machinery should do the trick.

FARMING. Some people are unhappy when following any other pursuit. I detest anything connected with it, so I will list it here. I imagine it would not be impossible to take care of our food supplies through a mixture of hydroponics and synthetics concocted in some factory.

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3 P H A N T E U R 3 STREET CLEANING. Even now, there is semi-automatic equipment used for this purpose; it needs only to be developed and improved. The operation of a sprinkler truck is not an unpleasant job, is easier than many truck driving jobs. WAITERS, WAITRESSES, AND BUSBOYS. Discounting the fact that many people actually enjoy this type of work (witness my wife, who gets a great deal of pleasure out of her job as a cocktail waitress), I should like to call your attention to a cafe in Boise, Idaho, which I visited in April, 1935. Called the Mechanafe, it was long, narrow, two story affair, which had all the food on trays riding along an endless belt. You sat by the belt, watching the food go by, and when something came along you liked the looks of you grabbed it. It seems to me this was an excellent start. DISHWASHING. How about disposable dishes? JANITOR WORK. Alarge portion of this could be eliminated, perhaps, by an educational program which would inculcate people with habits of cleanliness. But self-cleaning rooms do not seem entirely outside the realms of possibility. A judicious use of compressed air and/or vacuums, dirt-proof construction (i.e., dust-tight; simple, built-in, functional furniture; rounded corners; and so on), and in many cases rooms could be fitted with automatic flushing systems which would sluice the walls and floors with some chemical cleaner. There would probably remain an inescapable residue of human work, but it should be so rarified that the use of all these gadgets would be fun. CHAMBER-MAIDING. Disposable bedclothes might eliminate some grief. But how about strictly functional sleeping rooms? Air conditioned in such manner as to obviate all need for either bed clothes or pajamas, waterproof cabinets in which clothes and the like might be kept, beds consisting of self-inflating, pneumatic affairs which automatically adjusted to the weight of the individual or individuals occupying same (just a matter of valves and plenty of compressed air) and the whole thing sluicable by the flip of a faucet. STORE-CLERKING. This line of work would undoubtedly appeal to many if it were adequately paid. But from present-day indications, the trend even under the profit system seems towards a mixture of serve yourself and vending machines. STEVEDORE WORK (And other jobs involving the constant moving of heavy objects by manpower.) When one notices the material moving arrangements under the profit system, where the only motive is to cut costs, it seems difficult to doubt that all materials could be moved by machinery if it were so desired. Pumps, cranes, hoists, power trucks, straddle-bugs, monorails, derricks...the list is almost endless, even today. MINING. It seems unlikely that there is any real need for men to go underground to work, except for occasional inspection, repair, and maintenance trips. Could not the miner of the future sit in a sunny office, watching through television the work of the remote-controlled machines he operates from a key-board in front of him? Today, much minerological and geological exploration is done by the diamond drill. Actual mining may be broken down roughly into hole-boring, laying of powder charges, blasting, shoveling up the detritus and loading it into cars, and shoring up the tunnel. Much of this could be done by making slight adaptations of existing machinery. The accomplishment of none of it seems impossible for the technology which can make a B-29 take off, make a 3000 mile trip, drop bombs, and land--all without a crew aboard. SANDHOGGING. Adaptations of futuristic mining machinery should do the trick. FARMING. Some people are unhappy when following any other pursuit. I detest anything connected with it, so I will list it here. I imagine it would not be impossible to take care of our food supplies through a mixture of hydroponics and synthetics concocted in some factory. WoeismewottafateLaneyplansaworklessStateEitherIwasborntoosoonOrhewasborntoolate