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Inside MIT’s Hobby Shop

By John Baichtal

It’s remarkable how the MIT Hobby Shop presages aspects of the hackerspace movement…

In the 1937-38 academic year, Vannevar Bush, then Vice President of MIT, granted a group of 16 MIT students permission to use a room in the basement of building 2. With equipment they found around the Institute they set up a wood and metal shop in the 16-foot by 22-foot area. The club members chose the name “Hobby Shop” based on their belief in the philosophy that the well rounded individual pursued interests outside their profession – hobbies.

Now in its 75th year, we take a look back how the Hobby Shop began, and evolved to what it is today.

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Comments

  • What a perfect word to live in. I hope to be able to give my son the opportunity to live in an environment when he becomes a student.

    Brilliant - most of the equipment is old, but passion and love keeps all alive. This is truly a feel good article, thanks for sharing. 

  • The problem is, a shop like this would HAVE to have a full time manager anytime somebody is using it. You can't simply leave it up to the users.  It will descend into chaos, and every tool will be broken.

    I know, because where I work the shop is only barely managed, and it's pretty bad as it is.

  • you mean like a swimming pool that has a 'swim at your own risk' sort of waver?   not sure I would agree with you on that since there are ways to limit exposure in lots of ways.. then your issue would only be gross negligence

  • Admin

    @LanMark,

    I hear you, but the liability insurance would be out of sight for most communities who are already budget strapped to begin with.

    Regards,

    TCIII

  • I think a lot of communities could use a common shop with a shop master.

  • Admin

    I sure could use a well equipped hobby shop like that in my garage!:-)

    Regards,

    TCIII

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