27 Comments Posted by big

	big_d That is the way it was back then, make it bigger than it needed to be, more mass= more stability, plus the fact that casting large pieces was cheaper than today......

Location: Toronto Power Company Generating Station Gallery: On the Side of Caution

	big_d Claudia, I believe the name you are looking for is Hulett. www.clevelandmemory.org/glihc/hulett/index.htm These were automatic ore unloaders.

Location: Acme Coke Plant Gallery: Altostratus

	big_d I believe it stands for (pi r squared) pi r squared is the formula for solving the area of a circle. Part of an old rhyme , I think.

Location: Acme Coke Plant Gallery: Altostratus

	big_d I must apologize, as in most cases, I am looking at the architecture itself, and marveling about how we cannot reproduce these today, at any cost. This was built at an exuberant time in this country's history, when anything seemed possible. Understand that I always think that the photography is haunting and evocative, It goes without saying. Great shot!

Location: Michigan Central Station Gallery: To the Top

	big_d Lets face it, Detroit is a failed city, and will slowly revert to a more rural state, The industry that built it, is gone, and barring some sort of massive change in this world, will never return. The only hope for cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Gary, etc, is that global warming gets severe enough that water used for manufacturing becomes a big enough issue that industries will be forced to come back to the water, as the Great Lakes have one fifth of all the world's freshwater. just my opinion.

big_d

Lets face it, Detroit is a failed city, and will slowly revert to a more rural state, The industry that built it, is gone, and barring some sort of massive change in this world, will never return. The only hope for cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Gary, etc, is that global warming gets severe enough that water used for manufacturing becomes a big enough issue that industries will be forced to come back to the water, as the Great Lakes have one fifth of all the world's freshwater. just my opinion.

Location: Michigan Central Station Gallery: To the Top

	big_d I especially like that giant impaling rod in the foreground, very comforting. Tristan Kye Sun 05-17-2009 You know, I never understood that comment until today, when I finally spotted that rod in the foreground...; )

Location: Continental Rubber Works (Hannover-Limmer) Gallery: Faces of Industry

	big_d Once upon a time in this country, the casting of iron goods was an art form, because while technology was expensive, labor was cheap. Now it is just the opposite, it simply costs too much to design and cast utilitarian items like a valve wheel. I don't know that anybody actually makes an item like this today in the U.S. All made in PRC, I'm afraid. Not trying to be a buzzkill, but it makes me sad that we are no longer the world's workshop.

big_d

Once upon a time in this country, the casting of iron goods was an art form, because while technology was expensive, labor was cheap. Now it is just the opposite, it simply costs too much to design and cast utilitarian items like a valve wheel. I don't know that anybody actually makes an item like this today in the U.S. All made in PRC, I'm afraid. Not trying to be a buzzkill, but it makes me sad that we are no longer the world's workshop.

Location: Bethlehem Steel Mill Gallery: Cathedrals of Steel

	big_d Another fine job! Thanks for preserving these memories!

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d You know, I have 8x10 glossies of an old bottling plant that was in business locally, circa 1910 or so, and the lack of guarding was appalling, large flywheels moving with no guarding, open holes where a lift went thru, leather belts running off an overhead shaft,etc., and young boys of about 12 yrs of age working.

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d Just think, most of these controls you see have been replaced by a PLC control or a computer program.

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d Almost makes you think the door is red hot, don't you think?

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d Once upon a time in this country, the casting of iron goods was an art form, because while technology was expensive, labor was cheap. Now it is just the opposite, it simply costs too much to design and cast utilitarian items like a valve wheel. I don't know that anybody actually makes an item like this today in the U.S. All made in PRC, I'm afraid. Not trying to be a buzzkill, but it makes me sad that we are no longer the world's workshop.

big_d

Once upon a time in this country, the casting of iron goods was an art form, because while technology was expensive, labor was cheap. Now it is just the opposite, it simply costs too much to design and cast utilitarian items like a valve wheel. I don't know that anybody actually makes an item like this today in the U.S. All made in PRC, I'm afraid. Not trying to be a buzzkill, but it makes me sad that we are no longer the world's workshop.

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d Break time!

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d Look to be manhole covers.

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d Maybe gravity, plus the grated floors which allow things to fall thru?

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d It is a big deal if you have ever seen someone die from mesothelioma.

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d It's just the way of history, plus the building matl's can be recycled etc. Better that Motts , et.al, preserve the memories thru the wonderful pictures so that all can see!

Location: Westport Generating Station Gallery: Trudge

	big_d makes me think scrappers have been through there.

Location: Acme Coke Plant Gallery: Altostratus

	big_d eldokid, I could make out the words "before" and "belt", so my guess would be "always start (Equipment) before starting belt"

Location: Acme Coke Plant Gallery: Altostratus

	big_d The story, unfortunately , of the Rust Belt. I live there. So, so many places like this, You will have material for decades to come, if you wish... Thank you for leaving a record. The interesting part of all this is that many of these industries were very dependent on the water for shipping and processing, etc., I believe that if this world continues to heat up and water becomes scarcer, many industries may find their way back, as the great lakes area holds 20% of the worlds freshwater.

big_d

The story, unfortunately , of the Rust Belt. I live there. So, so many places like this, You will have material for decades to come, if you wish... Thank you for leaving a record. The interesting part of all this is that many of these industries were very dependent on the water for shipping and processing, etc., I believe that if this world continues to heat up and water becomes scarcer, many industries may find their way back, as the great lakes area holds 20% of the worlds freshwater.

Location: Acme Coke Plant Gallery: Altostratus

	big_d The rubber plant I worked at ended the same way, in the end...seeing the pictures, i could almost smell the rubber.

Location: Continental Rubber Works (Hannover-Limmer) Gallery: Faces of Industry

	big_d Did this kind of work for 10 years. Hard, hot work.

Location: Continental Rubber Works (Hannover-Limmer) Gallery: Faces of Industry

	big_d Ah, the pressroom. Image all those presses heated by steam to about 450 degrees F. On an August day. Brutal.

Location: Continental Rubber Works (Hannover-Limmer) Gallery: Faces of Industry

	big_d Could have been the transmission for the raw rubber mixer. Reduce a motor of about 800 hp@1750 rpm down to about 40 rpm. Incredible torque.

Location: Continental Rubber Works (Hannover-Limmer) Gallery: Faces of Industry

	big_d those were various waxes and oils added to the rubber to give it certain characteristics.

Location: Continental Rubber Works (Hannover-Limmer) Gallery: Faces of Industry