"bailing wire"

[sagehen]

>On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 05:46:46 -0700, Jonathan Lighter
><wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>
>>OED doesn't list the Southern phrase, "shade-tree mechanic," meaning
>>"an amateur mechanic who stereotypically works in the shade of backyard
>>trees."
>>
>>"Shade-tree," adj., has now been used to mean "amateur," with a broader
>>application :
>>
>>2000 James V. Smith, Jr. _Force Recon : Death Wind_ (N.Y.: Berkley,
>>2000) 207 And he knew enough shade-tree psychology to know that he
>>would return to being a smart-ass.
>
>Did this start off as a Texan expression?  The earliest cites I can find
>on Newspaperarchive are all from Texas papers.
>
>
>* shade-tree engineer
>
>-----
>1953 _Valley Morning Star_ (Harlingen, Tex.) 5 May 3/1 Drillers started
>working on the test hole Sunday, and by Monday there was quite a group of
>shade tree engineers offering advice, criticism and suggestions as to
>where the well should have been drilled, how deep it should go and what
>kind of water could be expected. ... "You will have to go down 360 feet to
>find water in this location," one of the shade tree engineers told the
>driller.
>-----
>
>* shade-tree mechanic
>
>-----
>1957 _Commerce Journal_ (Commerce, Tex.) 30 Jul. 1/1 Local officers were
>of the opinion color and model of the vehicle would prevent extensive joy
>riding, although it was pointed out that such cars are prized by youthful
>shade-tree mechanics who convert in to hot-rod racing cars.
>-----
>1958 _Panola Watchman_ (Carthage, Tex.) 25 Sep. 5/1 The simple mechanism
>of the model "A" made it possible for any shade tree mechanic to repair it
>only with a knuckle busting wrench, a pair of pliers, and an adequate
>supply of bailing wire.
>-----
>* shade-tree beauty operator (nonce form)
>
>1958 _Commerce Journal_ (Commerce. Tex.) 3 Jul. 2/1 Shade tree beauty
>operators come off second best in a hair-dyeing rally staged Monday
>afternoon.
>-----
>--Ben Zimmer
~>~>~>~>~>~>
"  *bailing* wire."   Of course it _could_ mean wire of which bails were
made, but I doubt if that was intended.
AM