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

[jimfols]

579

Nice safety squints.

[Toolmaker51]

Run a few vertical lathes, never saw one with such low clearance between ways and chuck.
Every wheel set I've been around were paired on axles and turned simultaneously.
Never-the-less, a very limited work envelope, rail-wheels and maybe bowls from turbine water pumps. Good for their business, perhaps slightly lower cost, but far lower resale value.

[bruce.desertrat]

Better rigidity, too; this is a specialized machine to crank out wheels. I don't expect resale value was ever accounted into the system; this was designed to be used to make wheels until it was scrapped.

This isn't what a railroad shop would install; they'd want to ensure that the wheels were properly concentric to each other, but if you're making hundreds or thousands of wheels to ship out this is the machine you would use...notice the stack of blanks waiting alongside

[Toolmaker51]

Better rigidity, too; this is a specialized machine <snipped>.....notice the stack of blanks waiting alongside

And the cute little hex wrench, securing wheel to fixture.
I'll bet there is some kind of key driving it!

[Isambard]

Actually, companies like Sellars, Niles etc made those specifically for railways. With a fixed crosshead, they were made to machine both wheels & tires.
Wheels had to be machines prior to pressing on axles...

[Jon]

Wire mesh machine. American Steel & Wire Co. Donora Works. Donora, PA. 1915-1917.

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

[Jon]

Clearing trimmer in raised position. Wyman-Gordon Company, Grafton Plant. Worcester County, Massachusetts.

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

[Toolmaker51]

Notice it's surrounded by floor plates; most of the operating gear and immense concrete foundation. What isn't below, of course is above, such as cylinders above ram, and ladder on right side. Guessing this press rated at 1500 ton, not sure dieset makes, but these presses and larger very prevalent in the auto industry.

[Isambard]

Going by the model #, it is a 3000 ton x 20' between columns.

[the harmonious blacksmith]

Love your photo of "The Little Giant" - Ismabard Kindgom Brunel. What a Victorian engineering genius!