Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of human ingenuity to revolutionize an industry from within. When it comes to John Schmitt and his hardworking and ingenuous father, J.P. (Phil) Schmitt, the choice to develop their very own improved rig in 1953 was exactly what helped their family-owned business skyrocket in the water well world. 

In a past article series as part of the “Schmitt’s ‘Let Me Tell Ya’” column, John recounted his entire story in the water well drilling field and how his father and uncle chose to find solutions rather than make concessions. The goal of this series? To share the wealth and legacy of his family in this humble drilling community. 

As John Schmitt explains, “I’m writing about this old well rig to give younger readers an idea of the equipment our industry used in days long gone by. I think many readers will scratch their heads and wonder how we ever got anything accomplished in those days. The difference between 2019 and those old rigs is about the difference between the space shuttle and the Wright brothers’ first airplane. As an older man and longtime member of the industry, when I’m gone — and my colleagues are too — there won’t be any first-hand recollections of using these crude, old well rigs.”

Understanding this sentiment, I felt this look at the past and, more specifically, the legacy that John Schmitt and countless others like him have cultivated, was vital to keep our history alive. In turn, perhaps this ‘blast from water wells past’ helps young water well drillers gain a bit more perspective and appreciation for how far this industry has come. 

Family and Future 

John Schmitt’s journey into the world of well drilling is intertwined deeply with his family history. His father, J.P. (Phil) Schmitt, was born on a family farm a few miles south of Ann Arbor, Michigan, in February 1890. Growing up in a time when ingenuity was necessary for survival, Phil Schmitt harnessed his mechanical skills early on. 

After high school, he ventured into various jobs, eventually landing a position that would pave the way for his future in well drilling. Working as a mechanic and later selling essential equipment like Delco generators and DeLaval milking machines, Phil gained invaluable experience in machinery and customer needs—skills that would later fuel his venture into water well drilling.

A New Kind of Rig

The transition to well drilling began almost out of necessity. Rural areas lacked basic utilities like water and electricity, and Phil saw an opportunity to serve these essential needs. By the late 1920s, Phil and his employer recognized the need for a more efficient way to maintain and install water pumps, leading them to acquire their first drilling rig. This rig, a rudimentary setup built on a Star car chassis, was a far cry from the modern equipment we see today but was revolutionary at the time.

Phil and his young son, our very own John Schmitt, worked with this rig, adapting and modifying it to meet the evolving challenges of well drilling. Despite its primitive design, the rig was part of many successful well installations, marking the beginnings of what would become a family legacy in the drilling industry.

Modernizing the Family Business

By the late 1940s, it became clear that a more robust and efficient rig was necessary to keep up with the demands of deeper and more complex well drilling. Phil and John, now more experienced and with a clear vision for the future, decided against purchasing commercially available rigs, opting instead to custom-build a rig that met their specific needs. In 1953, they introduced a new rig mounted on a used 1935 Ford truck chassis, a significant upgrade that featured more power and reliability.

As John explained, “This rig was really a cathead-type rig when my dad bought it, and he “pulled the rope” for a number of years. When you pulled the rope on a cathead it would lift the load, and then when you released the rope it would lower the load. There is a real art to using an older manual cathead like that. If one rope climbs over the other there is no releasing it, and you have a dangerous situation.”

However, in tried and true Schmitt family fashion, John’s father came with solutions to optimize the rig even further by outfitting the rig with a bull reel, adding a spudder beam, and constructing a mast or derrick out of 4x4 timbers. As he says, “How my father, his helpers, and I drilled wells with this thing makes me scratch my head also. But we did do it, and a lot of others had a contraption much like this.”

Legacy and Lessons for Future Generations

Today, John Schmitt reflects on the evolution of well drilling technology with a mix of nostalgia and pride. He emphasizes the importance of remembering the origins of the industry and the resourcefulness of those who paved the way. The old rigs, though crude by today’s standards, represent a time of bold innovation and hard-earned progress.

In the case of J.P. (Phil) Schmitt, the resourceful father and business owner didn’t just build a rig with his family in that fateful year in 1953—he built a lifelong legacy that continues to inspire others through the salient advice and life lessons his once young and novice son now shares openly as a highly experienced leader and voice of authority across the nation. 

Passing Down the Torch

As the industry continues to evolve with technological advancements, the story of John Schmitt and his father serves as a reminder of the enduring human spirit and the legacy of those who have shaped the water well drilling industry. It's a call to current and future generations of drillers to appreciate the past, innovate in the present, and build towards a sustainable future.

At the end of it all, it’s never been about drilling holes—it’s about creating solutions for people, by people. That’s what makes water well drilling such a tried and true piece of Americana that is sure to never fade but rather adapt to the people it’s designed for and built by for decades and family generations to come. 

To close out this article, here is a final word from the man himself, John Schmitt: 

Congratulations!

If you are reading this while you are at the 2024 South Atlantic Jubilee or are reading it just after you have returned, my congratulations. You have done a valuable and wise thing by attending. If you get the idea that I enjoy water well and well drilling conventions, you are right.

I believe I have attended close to 200 of these events. This includes state, regional, and national conventions, covering 27 states and 3 Canadian provinces. 

I don’t think I ever attended one of those conventions that did not prove valuable. Now, when I say ‘attend,’ I mean you really have to attend. What do I mean by that? You can’t go to the convention city and then spend your time on a golf course or in a bar. You need to go to every exhibit booth that you possibly can and visit with the people there. You need to attend any educational seminar that interests you. That’s what I mean by ‘going to the convention.’

If you really do these things when attending, you cannot fail to see a new piece of equipment, be it a rig, a pump, or what-have-you. You cannot fail to learn of a new process in our industry that will be valuable, and you cannot fail to meet someone who it is in your best interest to know. I know this personally, and I also inherited this love for conferences from my father. 

My late father, whom Editor Sammy has written about, just loved well drilling conventions. He felt that the chance to visit with other professionals in what we would now call networking was simply invaluable. He loved to discuss rigs, pumps, and whatever with other professionals at a convention. 

Even in the final months of his long life, when I visited him on a not-very-good day in his life, I told him I was on my way to the Michigan Convention, and he squeezed my arm. I believe this is because he was truly reminiscing on the firm handshakes he once gave every person he met at these conventions. 

I know too many so-called professionals who have a $100 service call to make on the day of the convention, so they stay home and trade that $100 for $1500 or $5000 worth of knowledge they would get at the convention. A driller friend of mine, a highly respected man who has passed on, used to say, “They are not running their business; it's running them.” So, if you went to the Jubilee, Congratulations. Remember, state and regional shows are coming in the future, so plan to attend, and you will be glad you did. Oh yes, and you will have some fun too, I guarantee it!