Studebaker Stamping Plant | Around the Bend Next photo

Lab Equipment

Some lab equipment remained in one of the offices.
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Yay for us asshats! New pictures are always what we live for here!

Looks like that says "Acid Steel" on that vial......
Jude
Thu 02-23-2006
It's always a good day when new pictures are posted...
Ragdolledwahine
Thu 02-23-2006
ooooooh, very mad scientist like!!!!
rtotten
Thu 02-23-2006
I was hoping you would get around to this place. I'm very excited to see this!
Kay
Thu 02-23-2006
Ummmm, Motts? Why did they need lab equipment in an automobile plant?
Twug
Thu 02-23-2006
The only thing I can think of is if they applied any kind of chemical to parts, they had to measure the amounts of certain chemicals and test reactions? Did they actually apply the finishing coat of paint to the vehicles here, because that could of been what some of this was for, testing paint colors. But anyways, I have no idea, just a guess. ; )
Barbara
Fri 02-24-2006
YAY! New pictures!!
Mollie
Fri 02-24-2006
Thanks for the new pics, always brings sunshine to my day! haha
Alyssa
Fri 02-24-2006
New Pictures!!! I got my fix !
silkster40z
Sun 02-26-2006
Hi! Nice pictures. When I got a chance to go through there last spring, I saw the lab equipment too. The next day was told that people had been making meth in there. Part of the reason it's being torn down I guess.
John R
Wed 03-01-2006
The room and equipment seemed way too clean to be a meth lab.
Motts
Thu 03-02-2006
kimex? are they too cheap to go all out and buy decent pyrex glassware?
Peter C.
Fri 03-03-2006
Could it have been a quality control lab? I would imagine a lot of the materials used here were tested routinely to make sure their properties stayed consistant.
Scamp
Sat 03-11-2006
Hmm... Maybe Studebaker was working on new fuels... maybe those engines run on Peanut Butter Oil... Hmm... OPEC go to Hell! L-O-L!
Bill Romjue
Tue 03-14-2006
Wow, you coulda mixed some of them together!
Shawn McDonald
Sat 03-18-2006
I did some poking around and it looks like that glassware is at least pre 1982 and could very well have been used by Studebaker.

http://www.kimble-kont...m/html/CorpInfo.html

An auto manufacturer has all kinds of reasons for having a chemistry lab. Coolants, lubricants, paints, adhesives, all that stuff is going to need some kind of testing before it's used on a new car.

This is a GREAT site!
Jeff DeWitt
Tue 03-28-2006
This is a great series of photos. I am an architect and also into Studebaker trucks and also have an brand new art gallery in Berkeley, CA. If the photyographer of these shots is interested, perhaps we can have a show in our gallery. If interested, let me know at XXXXXXinfo@transmissions-gallery.comXXXXXX (remove X's)
Transmissions Gallery
Thu 03-30-2006
Great photos! I live in South Bend and pass by Studebaker everyday, and have my entire life.. Very interesting to see how in some spots time has seemed to stand still. Love all of your work, makes me want to get out there and shoot a couple rolls myself today. Thanks for the inspiration. On a dreary day like today I'm so glad I stumbled on your site!
Sara
Fri 04-07-2006
Don't know if they made it there, but Studebaker once made STP (Scientifically Treated Petroleum) oil and gas additives. Of course you can still buy these products.
Steve Ray
Mon 04-24-2006
to dewitt you are right . they spend countless hours analysing various ways fuel and other things react with new designs. labs are not out of the ordinary here.
figusmakem
Sat 06-24-2006
It looks like there is a small hole at the 50 mark dosn't it .
kim
Thu 01-18-2007
The lab equipment would have been used for quaality control on incoming steel. Large manufacturing companies found that it was more cost effective to certify their own steel vs. buying steel with a certificate.
If I had to make an educated guess, I would say that these were used for oxidation and durability testing, hence the "Acid Steel" writing on the test tube.
It was common practice to immerse steel into different acids and record the reacions to guarantee that the steel was not contaminated or weak.
S10Calade
Tue 04-21-2009
When studebaker joined with packard in 1958, they made their own, everything. Includeing break fluid, carb cleaner, window cleaner, motor oil, etc. They called it SP. SP products can still be bought and used at car shown and sasco. I use SP 30wgight oil in my lawnmower. its 50years old and works like new.
chris dresbach
Wed 08-05-2009

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