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

[Jon]

Agreed on Machine Thinking's work. BTW, he just registered on the forum and posted another excellent video: World's Oldest Micrometer - 1776! Who made this thing??

[Jon]

Library of Congress once again:

STEAM HAMMER, VIEW IS EAST. - East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company, Blacksmith Shop, State Route 994, West of U.S. Route 522, Rockhill Furnace, Huntingdon County, PA

Significance: The Blacksmith Shop, along with the Machine Shop and Foundry, was one of the three primary metalworking facilities at the East Broad Top Shop complex. Built prior to 1882, and enlarged after a fire in 1908, the wood-frame, board-and-batten sided Blacksmith shop was equipped for both general and specialized metal forming tasks. Major blacksmithing equipment includes three coal-fired forges, a massive 3,300 lb. steam-powered forging hammer, a smaller belt-driven hammer, and a reciprocating metal saw. Two areas of the Blacksmith Shop were devoted to specific processes and utilized specialized equipment. Locomotive boiler flues were cleaned, swoged, and rewelded using an oil-fired forge and pneumatic flue swager, and locomotive elliptic spring clusters were repaired and tempered by the EBT blacksmiths. Some occasional light smithing has been performed since the EBT ceased operation in 1956, and some minor stabilization of the structure has been done, otherwise, the Blacksmith Shop remains in essentially original condition.

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

[CharlesWaugh]

Here is a wikipedia page with an engineering-type drawing of that hammer (there is a link to a very large file of the drawing)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...et_6_of_6).png

[Jon]

Electric locomotive under construction. Note the Buchli drive. Date unknown. Captioned as:

Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik (SLM Winterthur) - a new electric locomotive under construction
A prototype Swiss-built SLM locomotive, which was finally sold to (or especially built for) France. French locomotive builders, especially in Graffenstaden, have often cooperated with SLM in the design and construction of new and experimental electric locomotives.

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

[PJs]

Stunning detail in the hi-res with quite excellent contrast levels. Was able to count 18 layers of the leaf springs and a whole lot of big rivets...and he details of the runner car are even better. Interesting double acting cylinder for brakes but Not a Westinghouse brake system...similar cantilever but the leading levers are the same size as the trailing ones.

[Jon]

Sack press (2000 ton) where tack head is shaped - Wyman-Gordon Company, Grafton Plant, 2000 Ton Press, 244 Worcester Street, Grafton, Worcester County, MA

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

[PJs]

Looks like Jack the Flash is buzzing through the room building giant rivets. Beauty of a forge beast!

[Jon]

Hercules shipyard crane. Boston, Massachusetts. 1930.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...0_fullsize.jpg

[PJs]

That is a big fella! The mass of the base is...Geez, I dunno...massive I guess...no words.

This pic gives it some scale.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/...alth:5h73s750z

Wonder if this was an inspiration for George Lucas and Star Wars.

[Frank S]

That is a big fella! The mass of the base is...Geez, I dunno...massive I guess...no words.

This pic gives it some scale.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/...alth:5h73s750z

Wonder if this was an inspiration for George Lucas and Star Wars.

I can see the resemblance