loftsman Shipbuilding and Aeronaut.
(ˈlɒftsmən)
[Cf. mould-loft s.v. mould n.3 17.]
One who reproduces a draughtsman's specifications for a ship or aircraft in full size on the floor of a mould-loft.
| 1901 T. Walton Steel Ships vii. 178 After the plans of a vessel have been prepared in the drawing office, the first man who takes her in hand is the loftsman. His domain is the mould loft, where..he proceeds to reproduce the ‘lines’ plan upon the loft floor to actual size. Ibid. 180 The loftsman's work is to rectify any..irregularities, and to produce perfect harmony and fairness in all lines which make up the form of the hull. 1909 Webster, Loftsman, one who lays down the lines of a ship in a shipbuilding loft. 1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) §668 s.v. Scriever, Loftsman, lays off from plans, on wooden floor,..outlines of ship frames and plates, [etc.]. 1947 Aircraft Engin. July 222/1 The loftsman would simply pass a curve pleasing to the eye through a few points determined by the designer. 1955 Times 13 July 2/5 Aircraft Loftsmen for the Aircraft Full-scale Layout Section. 1957 Technology Apr. 53/2 At a single step the loftsman will become a white collar worker, no longer grubbing about on hands and knees on a dirty floor marking off a life-size scrieve board. 1974 Sci. Amer. May 16/3, I worked for eight years..as lumberman, machinist, machine designer and loftsman before retiring to college. |