Vintage work crew photos

**wizard69** · Sep 23, 2018, 05:40 AM

Unfortunately I don't work in heavy industry so I seldom see presses of this size. However a few years ago I did take a trip through one of Harley's plants in Pennsylvania and was most impressed with the press they had doing fenders. That press was only about 3 stories tall but still impressive to watch. I can only imagine what it would be like to see that high press operating.

**Jon** · Sep 23, 2018, 09:35 AM

Welders working in the Doxford Engine Works Fabricating Department. Pallion, Tyne and Wear, England. 1954.

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**Jon** · Sep 24, 2018, 10:08 AM

Assembling the turbine engine of the HMS Brittanic. 1914.

**PJs** · Sep 24, 2018, 10:46 AM

WoW, the blades are amazing for 1914. Almost look like radiator fins. The sub-assemblies on the floor give a clue about the manufacturing techniques and the guys working in pairs about the assembly. With the taper at the right end, one might assume that to be the inlet. Great picture!

**Jon** · Sep 29, 2018, 10:00 AM

Shaping bells for loudspeakers. Atwater Kent radio factory. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1925.

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**PJs** · Sep 29, 2018, 11:37 AM

Great Pic of the press and the workers face is a tell.

They were one of the first electronic radio kits for the common household, beyond crystals built as kids. They were pretty much history by the time I got into it but remember working on a couple of old ones during my summer stints as a TV/Radio apprentice with "Ace" in HS. One was a console and another was a desktop. Old electronics like these have a smell I remember fondly and it came up when I saw the picture...and no it wasn't the almond smell from selenium rectifiers...more the shellacked/varnished cloth wrapped wire and components I think. Ace had one of the oldest tube checker (Weston from 1930's) around, and a bunch of earlier tubes back then, and he grew up with these and RCA/Magnivox from the day. As I recall, the chassis on these were really well made probably in SM shops like this.

Pics like these always stir the memories...and olfactory senses.

PJ

**Toolmaker51** · Sep 29, 2018, 06:43 PM

Now, THAT is a punch press. Not too much tonnage but straight sides and early double crank configuration it seems. The splatters aren't from hapless operators,it's drawing lube. Not to mention line-shaft driven.
Not some wimpy light curtained high speed OBI, this puppy can hit! An exceptional B&W photo too.
We should be pleased, the golden age of work and photography managed to coincide. Thank you, Jon.

**Jon** · Oct 1, 2018, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

the golden age of work and photography managed to coincide.

So true. That really is a great theme of this thread.

A double helical gear manufactured by Mesta Machinery. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 1913.

**ranald** · Oct 1, 2018, 06:53 PM

Reminds me when I first encountered a Utah coal mine dragline. I stood in the bucket which was like a small carpark for a few cars. Then I wandered over to a rear dumper & I was tall enough to reach the rim of a wheel: about 1971/2.

**Frank S** · Oct 4, 2018, 10:42 AM

How would you like to have to ride back and forth in the Lincoln Holland or Manhattan tunnels all day day in and day out in one of those 24" wide vehicles while trying to keep an eye on traffic offenders? And they say the police are paid too much.