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

[Jon]

Paterson, New Jersey - Textiles. Wishnack Silk Company. Fancies being woven. Front view of a Crompton Knowles 4 x 4 72 loom with an intermediate head. The particular loom shown is using 16 shafts, but has a capacity of 25. June 1937

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[jimfols]

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

Looks like it would have been good sport to see who could do the fastest setup.

[Toolmaker51]

Looks like it would have been good sport to see who could do the fastest setup.

Not just spools of material, lube and cleaning; more hand-wheels than a refinery!

[Jon]

Niagara Falls castings.

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

[jimfols]

What impressed me was the state of the art ladders.

[Toolmaker51]

What impressed me was the state of the art ladders.

Not a lot of metal workers are talented carpenters as well. . .

[bruce.desertrat]

the mind kind of boggles at the work going into making that pattern and ramming it up with that complicated core. Surely they didn't have any form of lost foam casting back then...

[Ralphxyz]

Are they still in use?

Ralph

[bruce.desertrat]

Are they still in use?

Ralph

Doubt it, those ladders look pretty flimsy

They may be still in use, this is the Wikipedia article on the plant, based on the probable age of the photo. The plant has undergone refurbishment starting in 2012.

[Frank S]

Had an uncle who when he thought us kids were a little too much under his feet while he was doing something. Would often say boys if you don't get your big feet out of my way I', going to run over them with a steam roller