Vintage work crew photos

[Toolmaker51]

When start to think of them building that, one of the first thoughts is, how did they drill all those holes? Did they match drill them. Or were they that good they the parts could be pre-drilled, then assembled like that and the rivets still fit. Always amazing to see the old photos.

Very possible the holes weren't drilled, but punched. More rapid, better size control. Spacing not critical project to project, just that at hand. I'd guess plates were holed flat then rolled. Aren't boilers etc drilled on specific centers? The drum diameter and plate length adjusted to overlap X amount of times? If spacing correct, the lap absorbs extra material.
Hardest part might be jacking the ends closed.
But they did so; on a regular basis.

[greyhoundollie]

I wonder why the guy smoking a pipe standing left of center has a bullet hole in his hat?

[mudnducs]

Bonneville dam under construction...mid 1930s

[Ralphxyz]

I wonder if the water tank is still there?

[clavius]

I wonder if the water tank is still there?

Billerica is just a a short drive from here. I wonder if the source for the photo gives some idea of the specific location? There is more than one such water tower in town.

[jimfols]

Billerica is just a a short drive from here. I wonder if the source for the photo gives some idea of the specific location? There is more than one such water tower in town.

I was searching for stand pipes and found this:

https://books.google.com/books?id=lO...dpipes&f=false

Way Way too much to read but lots of great old photos and drawings.

[Radioman]

I wonder if the water tank is still there?

No it’s gone. I lived in Billerica for 20yrs. The one that’s there now is 20x the size.
I’m wondering if it’s in the same location as the new one? This is the first time I’ve ever
scene this photo. Great piece of history for the town of Billerica.

P.S.- I graduated Billerica Memorial High School.

[Jon]

Employer resistance to the hiring of women workers in war industries is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, and this young employee of a Midwest aircraft motor plant embodies the reasons for this change of heart. With no previous industrial experience, she mastered the operation of this compressed-air machine in record time, and is now polishing airplane motor parts with speed and skill. August 1942.

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[Jon]

USS Seawolf receives her new "special projects" hull section. Mare Island, California. June 1971.

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[Jon]

Pig iron casting. Iroquois Smelter, Chicago. 1890s.

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