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

[Frank S]

I wouldn't go so far as to say too clean by any means.
Expand the picture to its fullest then scroll around there is some small cylinder laying on the floor not too far away from the electric motor mounted on the cast iron bricks Also around the shaper there is some debris as well as the swarth from the last or current shaping project.

[stillldoinit]

I an electrician in the Navy and the ship I was on was 240 volt DC, the main distribution switch board was open knife switches just like what Is on the big lathe. The ship was an old merchant marine converted for amphibious assault transporting marines and their equipment with the boats where the front ramp drops. I hated that ship but gained valuable experience. I cringe when I see old open equipment but it seems people were more careful in their jobs.

[Jon]

1000-ton forging press. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Kitsap County, WA.

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

[marksbug]

wow, what a motor...wonder what that would do to my power bill I know what my wife would do

[Jon]

Shaping machine. McKees Rocks Machine and Erecting Shop. Pennsylvania, 1904.

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

[McDesign]

I've heard that "a shaper will make everything but money". Got no experience myself.

[Toolmaker51]

That phrase likely coined by contour bandsaw manufacturers. Demise of one, very close to rise of other. Both do things other cannot quite as well.

[Toolmaker51]

Not only tremendous size and general facility, but note the floor. World's best industrial surface; wood bricks, they're set on end.
At lower left is what appears to be a drain, probably isn't. It's a cast iron floor plate, near certainty of mounting in front of portable boring mill, large radial drill, or functions as serious assembly table.

[Toolmaker51]

Not only tremendous size and general facility, but note the floor. World's best industrial surface; wood bricks, they're set on end.
At lower left is what appears to be a drain, probably isn't. It's a cast iron floor plate, near certainty of mounting in front of portable boring mill, large radial drill, or functions as serious assembly table.

Seeing photo I referred to wasn't specified by post number, *440, is a clean floor etc as described; not shaper and vicinity in post *442.
What an error! It never happened before..........but plenty of times since then, lol.

[marksbug]

oh thsose are just 1/2 boards, thats somebodys diorama dream shop...... entirely too clean, not a scrape on the floor, no wear trails, nutten.no oil stains, no dick stains. cant be real.