Vintage work crew photos

**suther51** · May 15, 2019, 01:22 PM

I would dare a guess the bags contain coke, likely a by product sold for heating and cooking. If anyone knows I would love to hear.
Eric

**Toolmaker51** · May 15, 2019, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by suther51

I would dare a guess the bags contain coke, likely a by product sold for heating and cooking. If anyone knows I would love to hear.
Eric

My WAG says so too; but those bags aren't very big. They're definitely working in residential area. Many of the homes around here were built with coal chutes direct to bin storage, all those heated with hot water radiators.
And how I'm crazy, seeking that same radiant method to heat shop. Foot thick brick walls & 17' high, ~200k pounds of cast iron, who wouldn't?
I've no love for those hanging or torpedo gas forced air burners. Stand here - bake lasagna; stand here 1 foot away and grab ice cold machine handles. Ineffective zone control = Total waste of energy!

**suther51** · May 15, 2019, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

My WAG says so too; but those bags aren't very big. They're definitely working in residential area. Many of the homes around here were built with coal chutes direct to bin storage, all those heated with hot water radiators.
And how I'm crazy, seeking that same radiant method to heat shop. Foot thick brick walls & 17' high, ~200k pounds of cast iron, who wouldn't?
I've no love for those hanging or torpedo gas forced air burners. Stand here - bake lasagna; stand here 1 foot away and grab ice cold machine handles. Ineffective zone control = Total waste of energy!

Yup, cooking then, cleaner n hotter than coal, less needed.
With all that thermal mass we all know where the neighborhood will go knocking when the power goes out with negative temps. ;-)

**Toolmaker51** · May 15, 2019, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by suther51

Yup, cooking then, cleaner n hotter than coal, less needed.
With all that thermal mass we all know where the neighborhood will go knocking when the power goes out with negative temps. ;-)

Yup is right. And be welcomed.
Long as they tote something along to be made. ;-0

**Jon** · May 17, 2019, 10:36 AM

Fire crew in a Packard. Detroit, Michigan. May 3, 1911.

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

**Jon** · May 18, 2019, 10:17 PM

Doffers and sweepers in the Mollahan Mills. Newberry, South Carolina, 1908.

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

Doffer in Lincolnton Mill. Lincolnton, North Carolina.

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

**Beserkleyboy** · May 19, 2019, 08:26 PM

Jon
Thanks again for these wonderful photos...I just spent the best part of an hour learning about doffers, child labor, linen mills, Taunton, Mass, the silverware produced there....and all from 1 photo...Cheers
Jim in Sth Coast NSW AUS

**volodar** · May 20, 2019, 08:10 AM

Re: ¨Doffers and sweepers in the Mollahan Mills. Newberry, South Carolina, 1908.¨

Couldn´t help but notice the exclusion from the main group of the only non-white boy. Off to the side, and in the background.

**Scotsman Hosie** · May 20, 2019, 07:45 PM

[QUOTE=volodar – Couldn´t help but notice the exclusion from the main group of the only non-white boy. Off to the side, and in the background.[/QUOTE]

Good eye – to have spotted that.

**jimfols** · May 20, 2019, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by volodar

Re: ¨Doffers and sweepers in the Mollahan Mills. Newberry, South Carolina, 1908.¨

Couldn´t help but notice the exclusion from the main group of the only non-white boy. Off to the side, and in the background.

It's an old woman