Vintage work crew photos

[Rikk]

No eye protection and a bracelet on each wrist makes me think it's a staged photo. Ah well, at least she has her long hair in a snood.

Many of these war photos of women workers were made to encourage women to join the workforce and, as a result, tried to show that a woman didn't have to sacrifice her femininity while doing a "man's job". They weren't meant to demonstrate proper safety practices.

I'm pretty sure you are on to something there Marv. The acronym on the bottom of the photo seemed familiar to me. After some searching, I found this.

"The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was the predecessor to The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)."

[Toolmaker51]

Not to mention no eye protection, it looks more like a training school. It's pretty clean (few shavings) and no serious machine shop used "lantern tool posts" especially in any kind of production atmosphere. Turning between centers with drive dogs is some pretty basic beginners techniques, though it is still occasionally a useful technique.

The lantern toolpost comment interested me enough to try googling when they were overtaken by QCTP's; even with several re-phrasings couldn't get anything close to an answer. The lantern/ rocker appear in lots of photos certainly later than WWII, but the next step were turret posts on engine lathes. My guess might be QC got rolling along with carbide inserts - still pre CNC.
All things considered, remain a great choice. The undeserved perspective being a hassle, is due just one factor. Few shops spent/ spend time prepping a supply of shims for setting tool height. Turrets are still quickest means to next tool, 4 usually sufficient. They also accept form tools or gang set-ups.
If I was to sit down and design an ultimate toolpost, wouldn't be QCTP alone; it would be 3 sides of turret and one of Dickson QC. I don't have a lantern anymore but know of shops keeping one around; because still the most compact, and flexible for unusual work, especially the 45° corner relief spec'ed in particular drawings.

Agreeing the photo has opportunistic staging; rolled up sleeves but wearing wristwatch. Between a watch and safety glasses, in my list of preparations the watch is first to go, for sure.
I do not feel one bit safer with eye protection unless turning brass, bronze or cast iron. My only eye incident ever, while wearing safety glasses and heavy turning with stream of short broken chips. The lens held one still blue hot against my eyelid until I slapped the glasses off, eye nearly fused shut about 10 days.
Later, when Mike Rowe declared "Safety Third" I was already aboard.

[old_toolmaker]

I am old enough to have personally known two “Rosie The Riviters”. They are long gone now.
Dick

[TrickieDickie]

It saddens me to think the men and women who fought and supported WWII are all but gone. They were trying times dealt with by tough people .

[marksbug]

eye too, have had 90% of my eye injury's while wearing protection....
as for the QCTP's... Ive not found a china one that you could take off and put back on in the same position.....if I did more I would make my own, but I dont so...it is what it is.
I do have massive respect for those who did this work .

[hemmjo]

I was looking for a QCTP but could not justify the cost. That money went for other, more useful accessories.

I do not use a rocker with my lantern tool post. I use flat shims on the base this makes the set up much more ridged. It is much easier to set up and get you get very accurate repeatability removing and replacing tools. It also does not change the cutting angles on cutters due to rocking the holder to adjust height. I can take it off and put it right back on with the tool at the exact correct height.

For a lathe used mostly for doing repairs and one of a kind work, I find the lantern tool post is superior to a QCTP for most operations. I wish I had a couple more, if yours is taking up too much room in your shop.

[old_toolmaker]

I have one QCTP of my own design. It is small for use on a Unimat size lathe. It works very well. It is 1-3/8” square and it has two positions at 90 degrees from one another. The tool holders have dovetails.

[Jon]

Work crew with a horizontal single tandem gas blowing engine. Mesta Machine Company.

Fullsize image: https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...e_fullsize.jpg

[skibo]

What can I say, cool!! There again everyone was wearing some kind of hat!

[12bolts]

Work crew with a horizontal single tandem gas blowing engine. Mesta Machine Company.

Single Tandem? Bit of a confusing misnomer there?