Vintage work crew photos

[Toolmaker51]

Mesta Machine Company Erecting Department.

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

I could be mistaken; but photo clearly shows large key stock on the rear most shafting, which nearly confirm evidence those miter gears are grooved for shift forks. So, whatever they are building is just part of a FAR larger mechanism and more demands of alignment, assembly and overall rigging. All that complexity, imagined or not, might just serve an end user, without being infrastructure whatsoever.