75 Years Hobart Institute
The Past, Present and Future

 By Andre Odermatt

Change is one of the drivers that create opportunity. When in 1930 the American Dream became a nightmare, when the land of hope, and optimism had become a land of despair, Edward A. Hobart recognized the need for welding training and he started using two booths of his factory’s welding department.  This arrangement was short lived because it began to interfere with the production of the fast growing company.  Soon thereafter, a training center was established with four welding booths in a corner of the factory’s third floor.  Welding was a young industry then and free skill training was offered to buyers of equipment, so they could properly take advantage of the process.  In early 1931, Robert B. Bercaw was hired to establish a program to demonstrate welding equipment and to train factory workers. 

The popularity of welding grew rapidly and the training center grew with it to 30 welding booths by the end of the 1930’s.  In May of 1940, the training center was incorporated as a non-profit operation under the name “Hobart Trade School”. The first workbooks and technical textbooks about welding and its applications were published.  In early 1941, the Hobart Trade School moved to a new, all-welded, modern steel building housing 52 arc and 12 gas welding stations.

During World War II, when many of the men were called to military service, women filled the welding booths.  It was during this time that Hobart Brothers Company worked closely with the military to supply welders to meet defense needs. These welders were shipped to Europe and other parts of the world and soon the name Hobart was recognized worldwide. The G.I Bill of Rights kept the school operating at capacity after the war as many returning soldiers were seeking vocational training in the post war era. 

As the Company expanded and land became available in 1957, Hobart built a new state-of-the-art 80,000 square feet facility on Trade Square East that became known as the Hobart Brothers Technical Center. Under the direction of Howard Cary and Ray Dunlavy, the school moved in 1958 into a section of this building and was renamed to “The Hobart Welding School”

Most welders are kinesthetic learners and based on the vast experience of the welding instructors, Hobart’s unique PAT (programmed audiovisual training) programs were formalized using audio visual tapes as well as work books and technical books. Hundreds of schools that teach welding use this training material. People from around the globe came to visit the Technical Center and the welding school. The Paton Institute in Russia and the Welding Institute of Czechoslovakia developed welding training programs based on the Hobart Program.  In 1964, John H. Blankenbuehler, electrical engineer with Hobart Brothers and at that time President of the American Welding Society, felt that a welding library should be established.  He presented a collection of 12 books that has since grown to one of the largest libraries in the country devoted exclusively to welding.

Directors of the Hobart school suggested the creation of special welding courses for artists to encourage the use of welded metal as an art form.  They also felt that the major training center for the welding industry should have a sculpture that expresses vigor, life, growth, enthusiasm and strength – all attributes of welding and the welding industry.  On August 11^th 1966, the Hobart welding school accepted a proposal from Professor George Tsutakawa, Professor of art at the University of Washington. By February of 1967, a scale model of the Unity of Man fountain had been completed and tested and the work of building the large fountain began.  On June 14, 1967 the work was completed and the fountain was lowered into place in the center of the pool designed by professor David Niland, Professor of architecture at the University of Cincinnati. The fountain’s first public display began at the close of a June 20^th, 1967, dedication when Edward A. Hobart pressed a switch that started the water flow.

The State of Ohio enacted in 1970 a law to license and control trade and technical schools and the Hobart school was the first welding school approved by the Ohio State Board of Schools and College registration. In 1972, the school was inspected and thoroughly examined by a team of welding and educational specialists and based on this survey was accredited by the National Association of Trade and Technical Schools.

In 1978, in order to meet the ever-increasing demand for welder training, a building expansion of 50,000 square feet was realized. Five technical classrooms were added to conduct special workshops, courses and seminars for management and supervisory personnel. The Hobart Welding School became the Hobart School of Welding Technology.

Next to the manipulative skill training for all major welding processes many more services were added such as testing welds, qualifying welding operators and procedures to the various welding codes and specifications and field training around the world. Under the direction of Ray Shook, then president of the school and now Executive Director of the American Welding Society the School changed its name again in 1991 to become the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.

Today, the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology houses over 175 extremely well ventilated welding stations equipped with the latest power sources.  Dedicated classrooms for each process are used to explain the theory as well as the manipulative skill. The philosophy of the institute was and still is to help individuals to develop marketable welding skills through quality training at minimum cost. 16 skill courses, two diploma programs, nine technical courses and many other services are offered to this vital welding industry.  As a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, all proceeds are invested in welding education.

Hobart Institute of Welding Technology has had a rich history and continues to play an important role in the welding industry. According to the U.S Department of Labor, there is a shortage of trained welders and this labor supply shortage is projected to increase in the next 20 years.  The average age of skilled welders is in the mid-50’s meaning that in the next ten years about half may retire.  The challenge is to attract more young people to become welders and HIWT is well positioned to meet this challenge and to continue to help young people to create earning power for themselves and to fill the need of the welding industry.

References: William H. Hobart, Marty Baker, Don Bercaw, History of Miami County, Ohio.