On Tuesday, December 6th, the New Glarus School District Technology and Engineering Department were presented a donation of some equipment used over 50 years ago that future students will be able to see how work was done prior to the current electronic and laser tools used today.

Robert and Sharon Martinson, of Martinson Excavating, out of Oregon, WI, donated one of their first Transit tools used when they first opened their business 60 years ago. Martinson Excavating job sites were mainly concentrated in the Southern Wisconsin region, but traveled as far as Garden, Michigan. Bob and Sharon recently closed the business to fully retire, at their cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Prior to using this Transit, Bob and his crew used hand levels to keep grade. This Transit was an essential piece of equipment for accurately keeping grade on basements, sewer systems, driveways and many other jobs.

After the Transit, around the late 1980's, Bob began using a Laser to keep grade which is still used today in the industry.

Bob said he learned how to use the Transit from other guys in the trade. Even though they were "competitors," they were also friends and learned from one another. The equipment suppliers that sold such equipment also offered instruction on how to use various new technologies.

Bob and Sharon hope current and future students enjoy seeing an "old school" tool of the trade, such as this Transit. It has served them well.