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

**Isambard** · Oct 31, 2021, 10:49 PM

My Hero! "It cannot be done." Never, ever, crossed his lips.
I live with PMA: "There are no problems, only solutions."

**the harmonious blacksmith** · Oct 31, 2021, 09:34 PM

The drive chains in lieu of belts were practical non slip at high torque. Some of those motors only turned 600 rpm. I had one on an old Warner and Swasey turret lathe. It was only 3 hp but was huge. I've also worked with machines that had leather gears on motors running against iron gears. These usually had brass ends with many layers of leather between. These motors appear to be 3 phase, and the open knife switch to the other side of the motor is 3 pole. Fuse size seem to be for low (220) volt rating. Also note the adjustable eccentric on the gear shaft on the opposite side has broken ways on the left side, the farthest travel setting. I've owned two shapers, still have a 20 inch Steptoe , set up to cut internal keyways. I wish I had one of the Gould and Eberhart 24 inch that I used in the past. They made fine machines with herringbone gears and were very smooth cutting machines. I once recut a 19 inch bevel gear on one. They made a 60 inch draw cut shaper but I never saw one. But I ramble...

**Isambard** · Nov 7, 2021, 01:16 PM

As regards the 60" draw-cut shaper, I think your memory is playing tricks... Morton
were the US draw-cut specialists and made a 60" DC shaper as did Butler of the UK.
Butler's was just on 39 tons and 14.5' high. The ram had both boring and milling capability.
If I can clear my desk I'll scan some pix.

**Jon** · Nov 7, 2021, 10:25 AM

Blacksmith shop at the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company. March, 1904.

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

**Isambard** · Nov 7, 2021, 01:37 PM

Back in the '80s I knocked on the door of Vickers in Barrow in Furness, UK, and asked if
I could come in for a look. They told me to go away! :-(
Anyway a friendly security guard advised me to apply for permission, which I did, and
apparently after vetting by MI6, a week later, Head office London, extended an invitation! :-)
Anyway on my "grand tour" of the establishment, conducted by no less than the head draftsman,
I visited the Blacksmith shop, A building of similar size to the above, but very organized.
Both opposing walls consisted of at least ten heating furnaces each with an attendant swing crane
and a steam hammer.
On that day, only two were operational, forging the breech lump on the end of what to be 155mm
howitzer barrels, Vickers had an order of 100 for the Italian Army.
Later I saw them boring the ends of the trailing arms of the carriages, and when I commented that
they appeared fabricated out of SS, the reply was: If you're over $1million per, you wouldn't want them to rust! :-)
BTB At that time, they were installing a new VMC with a capacity of 16' cube. £16 million.

**Ed Weldon** · Nov 8, 2021, 09:35 PM

Those of you who might get to Ely, Nevada. There is an old shortline mining railroad (the Nevada Northern) there that runs steam excursion trains in the summer. If you catch them in the off season and things are quiet there see, if you can get over their machine shop and talk sweet to the shop boss. Maybe he will let you get into the dark recesses of the engine house where there is hidden an ancient railroad blacksmith shop. Give me some encouragement and I'll try to share my photos of it illuminated by a late August afternoon sun some 20 years ago.
Ed Weldon