Vintage work crew photos

[Toolmaker51]

Hammer workers. Howard Axle Works. January, 1948.

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

Perfect example, validity of planers.
Until recently, milling that contour be difficult, because spindle and housing needed to support rotating cutter, with corresponding increase of machine size. The upper housing has 3 visible rams, two vertical compounds (swivel) and at least one horizontal, behind man on right. Possibly (likely) other side too.
Drawback of planers, they required bed and ways longer than table. Today's machines run on rails, called "gantry mills", occupying far less real estate.