High-quality black-and-white photographs of large old machines and tools

**Jon** · Feb 7, 2019, 02:56 PM

When the engine starts, a grown man literally jumps for joy.

**cmarlow** · Feb 8, 2019, 06:02 PM

Detroit Diesel produced engines for heavy trucks that were 2 stroke diesel. They had ported cylinders to get fresh air and had exhaust valves to get rid of the burnt stuff. They are "interesting", were very popular, and I believe copies are still being made for industrial use.

**Jon** · Feb 10, 2019, 08:22 PM

Type F Brown Hoisting Machinery Co. locomotive crane with 40 ft. boom, 1918.

Looks like some crane attachments are drawn on the image, like photoshopping from 100 years ago.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...e_fullsize.jpg

**PJs** · Feb 11, 2019, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Jon

Looks like some crane attachments are drawn on the image, like photoshopping from 100 years ago.

I'll try this again as I Oxiduntly errasticated my first post.

I think these were probably done later and likely with modern techniques. It is possible they were done back then but this type of enhancement didn't take place very much until a decade later when inks were developed to work with either the prints or negatives, then reprinted/developed.

Close inspection of the crane I would say that the crane itself (selected) was enhanced with at least with contrast, brightness and perhaps exposure to highlight the crane over the rest of the picture (background washed out). Huge amount of lint/scratches close up that were resolved in the crane itself. The boom, although still grainy definitely has contrast adjustment and some clean up. The cabin was more so enhanced using a clone stamp or some minimal opacity brush work and the arc of that light/shadow does not fit the lighting profile...scratches are maybe 20% of the background.

As for the block/hook, note that the back of the neck of the hook has and over-spray/brush mark of lesser opacity. The block could have easily been added and the use of a clone stamp or Bandaid tool used to make it look old with the smear. The bumpers and turnbuckles and the top hat on the cabin were similarly produced with small brush work and on the rear bumper there is (obvious to me) cleanup/clone stamp work around it and inside the step bar. The top hat is much more subtle, again lighter lint/scratch and the use of opacity and spray-brush to create the reflective effect.

I probably deleted the first one subconsciously to minimize my usual spewing syllogistical thesis so I will stop here.

Thanks Jon for another rabbit hole of wonder.

PJ

**sossol** · Feb 11, 2019, 09:48 AM

Maybe they were drawn over the real things because they were unable to capture the detail, those parts were washed out/overexposed. It was common enough then to spawn a joke that goes something like:
Customer takes an old family photo to a photo store and asked them to remove grandpa's hat from the photo. The clerk asks "What color was his hair?". The customer replied with "Won't you find that out when you remove his hat?"

Neil

**Jon** · Feb 13, 2019, 01:15 PM

Steam hammer used for forging steel at the Midvale Steel Company, c. 1905.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...r_fullsize.jpg

**Jon** · Feb 14, 2019, 06:57 PM

Installation of the Gargamelle chamber body. Placement of the chamber in the oblong shaped magnet coils. January 1970.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...r_fullsize.jpg

**Jon** · Feb 19, 2019, 04:47 PM

George A. Van Biesbroeck (1880-1974), astronomer at Yerkes Observatory observing Mars when it approached close to the earth in 1926, and using the 40 inch refracting telescope, the largest of its kind in the world.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...e_fullsize.jpg

**Toolmaker51** · Feb 19, 2019, 06:15 PM

With some spare time; I'll make up funny labels for all those handwheels. I count 7...Sure, they're for mirror alignment, but that's boring.

**mklotz** · Feb 21, 2019, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

With some spare time; I'll make up funny labels for all those handwheels. I count 7...Sure, they're for mirror alignment, but that's boring.

It's a refractor so mirror alignment isn't much of a problem. (The components that always work flawlessly are the ones that aren't there.) Regardless, I'm very impressed by the ability to precision grind a 40 inch lens back in those days.

You've got me wondering what is being controlled with all those ship wheels. I suspect most of them are controlling mechanical rather than optical properties of the instrument.

More on the Yerkes Observatory here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerkes_Observatory