AMphy

52. An Unpaid Bill

Alphy’s decision to go into the business of making windows
and door frames had been a good choice. By the mid 1950's there
was a market for these products. When Alphy wasn’t doing carpenter
work, he was working on ways to improve his business. Sometimes
he would lay awake during the night, thinking about engineering
more efficient machinery. At times like these, his mind would work
overtime, until the wee hours of the morning.

Over the years, Alphy designed a few machines that were
uniquely made. Some of these included a router, and a planer. The
planer was very efficient; it did two jobs in one. Alphy could set
this machine precisely to the size he needed, and with it he could
make window sashes to the exact measurements as required. This
machine would plane and make the grooves in the wood for the
sashes simultaneously. It enabled Alphy to make twice as many
windows in a quarter of the time it would normally take. Another
advantage of the machine was that each window could be made with
precision.

Alphy also decided that the window sashes and door frames
would sell better if they were painted. Margurita was his partner in
the business, and she did all the painting. Alphy and Margurita
worked side by side in the workshop. He built the window sashes
and door frames and she painted them. They were a strong team,
and Margurita also shared the profits. When Ivan was old enough, he
quit school and also worked with his father fora few years. When
Ivan moved on, Dennis took his place, helping his father with the
business.

Alphy and Margurita taught the children the value of taking

pride in one’s work, and a strong sense of responsibility. When
Dennis was in his early teens, he was hired to do janitorial work at

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