The Way It Used To Be

The Good 'Ol Days.

100 degree days in the Summer of 1986. The way it used to be before we started caring about our health and safety. On the back of the photo it says his name is Timothy Lott. I wonder where Timothy is now?

How many of you remember working like this?

I might have been that skinny in 86 and it was all flat roofs back then. only wore pants in the winter......just like now....

Mid 60's through the early 70's . . . t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes . . . and the hat . . . no cigarette. And the pitch on those dairy barns was considerably steeper . . . but the views were better. T-Lock shingles were the product of choice ...

In 1986 with a few rolls of torch on the flat and 3 tabs on the slope.... I didn't too many shingle roofs, but I did a few just like it.

Lose the cig and put a few pound on his shoulders and that could just as well be me.

Lose the hat, tie the missing tee shirt around his head to keep the sweat out of his eyes and that was Willie in 1986 with two whole years experience.

Sat on the left side of my butt cheek just like young Timothy there and hand nailed an average of 15 sq. per day. (28 2/3 sq. on the record day).

We got paid by the square on completion which was pretty much every day or two and I think that quick money is what got me hooked on roofing. That and being able to control what I make by being fast and good.

General Contractors used to come to my house early in the mornings not knowing if I was even there. I had no phone and no vehicle but they were willing to drive across town at dawn because they knew if I was there that newly constructed house would have a nice new roof on it by days end.

;)

I might have had the same outfit, but I never worked sitting down. I would have done the torch-down before roofing above it. That way if you burn the place down, you're not out any shingling money you've already banked.

Me, only it was the summers of 57-58-59-60-.....Hey, I have been at this for a looooonnnnggg time. If I knew how to do it, I would post a video compilation of myself and a bunch of my brothers nailing shingles, and the first one is from the fall of 1956 when I was about 4 1/2 years old working with my dad on the house they still live in. I didn't have a cigarette hanging from my lip though. Looks like timothy is trying to line up a shingle to strike a line or two to cut around the vent.