In the past 20 years, the idea of a job for life has become taboo. It is assumed that workers will move regularly, deploying their skills in different contexts and, in doing so, allow companies the ‘flexibility’ to ‘manage their human resources’ more efficiently. What is lost is long term loyalty and the now old-fashioned view of companies founded on a social compact. But patience and long term dedication sometimes bring greater rewards. One example is the Penning gauge.