Vintage work crew photos

[DIYSwede]

Sorry for interrupting all the fun here:
This lab wasn't all-female just for being exceptionally progressive, offering "equal opportunities for ladies" -
there was a big, bloody war going on right then.

"WWI Brunner Mond modified several of their plants in order to produce ammonium nitrate for munitions.
As well as purifying TNT for government use, the firm provided synthetic phenol for conversion to the alternative explosive, picric acid."

From: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Brunner,_Mond_and_Co

[marksbug]

no reason to be sorry. were always up for some real info. if this was a modern photo my comment would be about right.

[bruce.desertrat]

Sorry for interrupting all the fun here:
This lab wasn't all-female just for being exceptionally progressive, offering "equal opportunities for ladies" -
there was a big, bloody war going on right then.

"WWI Brunner Mond modified several of their plants in order to produce ammonium nitrate for munitions.
As well as purifying TNT for government use, the firm provided synthetic phenol for conversion to the alternative explosive, picric acid."

From: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Brunner,_Mond_and_Co

Oh what fun! Not a place I'd like to work!

(Once upon a time, long ago I was helping to clear out and clean up a long-time toxicology professor's lab a few years after he'd retired, and in one of the chemical cabinets we came across a large glass jar of picric acid that over the years had picked up moisture and recrystallized all over the inside of the jar and up around the lid.

We evacuated the building and called in the bomb squad for that one! There was probably 1-1.5 kilos of it in the jar. )

[Toolmaker51]

What is the timer for?

By timer, I believe you refer to the clock looking device high up the mast. That's a range to target signal, aka shot clock or concentration dial, aiding other ships in formation. By observing and comparison, elevation could be regulated somewhat better. Each ship made own corrections for direction, wind and surface speed. More at https://hoover.blogs.archives.gov/20...-like-a-clock/
Disappointed same phrase didn't appear in wikipedia

[mcthistle007]

Hello bruce.desertrat, They certainly would've been Very Serious & Brain Squirming Times Indeed,not like looking @ your smartphone to see if the battery was getting low or if you had a message from Shakespeare. Tell us what could have happenned with that jar of "PICRIC ACID" if things went Pear shaped? Those pictures maybe tell more than a Thousand words.Makes me laugh when I compare the different times and what people "HAD" to go thru with not much choice! Will the pendulum swing the other way,one day?This website is The Best Value ever!

[mklotz]

By timer, I believe you refer to the clock looking device high up the mast. That's a range to target signal, aka shot clock or concentration dial, aiding other ships in formation. By observing and comparison, elevation could be regulated somewhat better. Each ship made own corrections for direction, wind and surface speed. More at https://hoover.blogs.archives.gov/20...-like-a-clock/
Disappointed same phrase didn't appear in wikipedia

Fascinating. Thanks for providing me today's "learned something today" cookie.

[Philip Davies]

Oh what fun! Not a place I'd like to work!

(Once upon a time, long ago I was helping to clear out and clean up a long-time toxicology professor's lab a few years after he'd retired, and in one of the chemical cabinets we came across a large glass jar of picric acid that over the years had picked up moisture and recrystallized all over the inside of the jar and up around the lid.

We evacuated the building and called in the bomb squad for that one! There was probably 1-1.5 kilos of it in the jar. )

Just as well that you recognised the hazard! How many general clearance workers would?

[Jon]

Pennsylvania Rubber Company workers. Jeanette, Pennsylvania. 1947.

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

[the harmonious blacksmith]

Those rollers look pretty dangerous without safety devices to keep hands out.

[Toolmaker51]

I believe that is how certain compounds are mixed, a similar but larger machine was in our plant. Not unlike kneading bread dough. Rolls were heated, a little spray of water kept it from sticking. I suppose the rollers could be considered a hazard, but they turn slowly.
Ultimately, the real hazard; inattentive operators.