Father Knows Best

[mpallamary]

I stumbled across this doing some research.

Times have changed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECJBxZOVLLY

[Jim Frame]

I didn't want to burn 25 minutes watching the whole thing, but I did watch the field scene, and am impressed that they got the terminology just about right. Script writers usually cobble together their own bizarre notion of what surveyors do and say, but these guys (or gals!) must have had some surveying experience or input when they started crafting the dialogue.

[land butcher]

They did real good with the terminology.

[Gary Schenk]

They might have got the terminology right, but some college boy being the chief?

[Jim Frame]

They might have got the terminology right, but some college boy being the chief?

That's not so uncommon, or at least it wasn't back in the days of 3- and 4-man crews. The Wonder Boy (often the owner's son) was put in charge of a crew, partnered up with the crusty-but-well-seasoned chainmen who'd keep him out of trouble. (I was the Wonder Boy once upon a time, though never the owner's son.)

[mpallamary]

I testified in my first trial when I was 19 years old. I was a crew chief at 19. Not odd at all. I was licensed at 24.

[Stephen Johnson]

I was "Running" a field party at 16 for my Dad. Real simple stuff.

I made PC on my own hook at 21 when most fresh PCs were late twenties and older.

Got my first License at 33. Could easily have been 6 years earlier if I hadn't spent all of the time between 21 & 27 working construction.

[PLS7393]

Thanks for the link Mike.
It was worth the 25 minutes, lol.

[Proud7191]

The writer must of been the son or daughter of a surveyor and had first hand knowledge of how a typical crew was in the day. It was great. Could really identify. Thanks for posting! Jp