Newspapers / Amco News (High Point, … / March 1, 1965, edition 1 / Page 8
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Meet Your Supervisor ( Continued from page one ) machines. There was one operator to each knitting machine because the ma chines were not automatic and required a top knitter. Only one hosiery style (24B) was being made and that in only one color, black. The leg of the stocking was made of two strands of 18 count cotton yarn and the foot contained one strand of 9 count yarn. A second style (310) was added in 1907. There were no knives on the looping machines; child ren were often employed by the loopers to ravel the looper edge. The stockings were turned by hand on a broomstick. Banner was hired to run ribbers, but his natural mechanical ability was quickly recognized and two months later, he was promoted to fixing knit ting machines. In 1907, this young mechanic was called to work on every type machine, including typewriters, in the plant. When called on to repair a typewriter, Banner had never worked on one, but his keen mechanical sense gave him the analytical procedure to diagnose the trouble, and soon he had the type writer repaired. Since 1907, Banner has been sent to the different plants to work on knit ting machines and other auxiliary equipment. In addition to his being in demand for mechanical problems in the various Adams-Millis plants, arrangements were made by the super intendent for him to assist other ho siery plants with their "fixing" prob lems. There were no elevators in the buildings in 1907 and when the second group of machines were placed on the second floor of the present warehouse building. Banner Leach and J. Ed Millis carried some of the machines up the stairs at the front of the build ing. The knitting machines were much smaller than machines running today, so two men could carry a machine up ^ the stairs. Yarn was carried up the stairs in burlap sacks. Banner designed and made the first striped stocking he ever saw. His busy schedule as plant mechanic included making samples from 1906 to 1946. He continued in the Sample Department for several years after Goley Marlette joined that department. In 1946, Banner's mechanical abilities were needed in other areas and he was transferred to plant mechanic. Banner is always looking for a better method or device to help do the job. He has discarded many of his old ideas and replaced them with new and better ones. His devices and improve ments include a hook, which he devised in 1906, for taking out knitting machine drums. Ideas still being used are a double sealer for the finishing room, solenoids on sealing machines, a mech anized grommet machine, and a sharp ener for clipper blades that assures an even, smooth cutting surface on the blade. In 1959, Mr. Leach had to leave the finer work because of his vision. Only once has he had to be out of work due to his health. He had malaria fever when he was 27. He was three days too old for the first World War draft. Banner Leach got his first bit of mechanical training in his father's country blacksmith shop in Trinity. His father, Lorenzo Leach, was a farmer and blacksmith. His mother, from Rockingham County, was Miss Julia Bell before marriage. Banner was 12 years old when his father died. The Leach family lived in Trinity until 1907 when Banner built a home for himself and his mother at 1415 Cloverdale Street in High Point. He and his family still live in the house built in 1907. Banner Leach married Miss Ethel Brewer from Star, N. C. , in 1920. They have eight children, one of whom, Mrs. Mary Maske, is employed in a
Amco News (High Point, N.C.)
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March 1, 1965, edition 1
8
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