So did he get bathroom breaks?

Jan. 1, 2004
Editors spotlighted communist propaganda in the January 19, 1954, issue. Editors shared a news item from a Soviet publication that proclaimed, "Americans indulge in an inhuman speedup that ruins the health of workers." According to the Russians, an Americ

Editors spotlighted communist propaganda in the January 19, 1954, issue. Editors shared a news item from a Soviet publication that proclaimed, "Americans indulge in an inhuman speedup that ruins the health of workers." According to the Russians, an American shop had installed lathes that required workers to use both hands and feet — in addition to a special yoke that went around the worker's neck to move the "longitudinal support."

Supposedly, a lubricating mechanism was over the worker's head. Its purpose, explained the Soviets, was to rain oil on the laborer if he failed to do his job properly.

Editors seemed amused by the report, indicating that no one in the U.S. had ever heard of such a lathe, let alone seen one.