Danger

it almost looks like something is traversing under there.

"I was feeling kinda seasick, the crowd yelled out for more..."

Motts...those being wood blocks makes me think back. I used to work at Pratt & Whitney, at their hardware helpdesk. The building I worked in was the 'H' building. It was where they dragged aircraft engines, on large skis, in and out with retro-fitted bulldozers. They used those same blocks, and painted them over with this black goopy stuff. They were more sturdy than anything else. They take a lot of weight. The only thing that affected them was water. They'd suck it up and buckle, just like these. And lemme tell ya, this building had LOTS of leaks!!! It makes me wonder just what this "walkway"(?) was used for....

Excellent shot! And Pa Backy, that was priceless! I agree with Spooky.... looks like Nessie is under there.

that is pretty cool, looks like the floor could use some help!!

"The room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away..."

Ya, thats one excellent picture. Love the colours and the simplicity of it

those are pecan block, and they are frequently used in stamping plants for their ability to absorb shock and for toughness

Did you know that streets also used to be made from wooden blocks? There are only a handful left in the whole world. We have one small street here in Pittsburgh still in use made out of wood blocks. I have to go and see it sometime. It is over on the East end of the city somewhere, I forget where. There was a whole article on it in the paper a few years back.

A lot of times these blocks were used in stables to be easy on the horses feet after a long day of deliveries pulling wagons.
I know of one of these stables now being used for a truck spring company in Reading Pa.

great shot motts, very spooky.

My first impression: The workmen are STILL below...the floor that is, and trying to get out. Factory of the Living Dead...

The blocks of wood are soaked in cresote(sp?)
(Same stuff as RaiIroad ties) I pulled up a floor like this in a school once.

Lou, it's "creosote". Preserves timber and eliminates termites. It has a really strong sort of "antiseptic" smell. In Sydney (Australia) several of our older streets were made of these blocks. i remember, as a boy, sixty years ago, smelling the blocks burning in nightwatchmen's braziers, as our beautiful nineteenth century city was "modernised".

I once toured the Electromotive factory in La Grange, IL that had wood block floors and was told it was a safety issue, if a metal tool was dropped there would be no sparks as would happen on a concrete floor.

I love the stern warning about intentional throwing stuff. I would have been cannned 4sure. That sign just begs to bee ignored!

The brick wave.

Signed: An American Soldier stationed in Germany.

12:52 A.M. / Tuesday / 24 / July / 2007

The wooden blocks were used for several reasons, First, and foremost they absorbed shock much better than concrete and when expensive castings were dropped they didn't fracture. Second, when damaged they were easy and inexpensive to replace when compared to repairs to other types of florring. Third, they were very easy to walk on and anyone who has spent his/her life in a mill that had floors like these preferred walking on them rather than concrete. Sadly, this third reason wasn't nearly as important as the first or second.

And now the world knows that I spelled "flooring incorrectly.

The way the floor was curved like that reminds me of went to visit my aunt in New York a couple of years ago. There was a lot of rain, and water got under the hardwood flooring causing them to curve upwards like that.

Wow... clearly a message from a time you could actually punish workers. I will elaborate my comment with the following story. Hope you enjoy it.

M = Manager W = Worker R = Worker's Representation (lawyer, union rep, whatever)

1960s or prior
M: "HEY! Why did you just throw that off the balcony? Can't you read? You know what? I don't care. You're fired! Get out!"

NOWADAYS
M: "HEY! Why did you just throw that off the balcony? Can't you read? You know what? I don't care. You're fi--"

R: "Um, what seems to be the problem here?"

M: "This a**hole just threw something off the balcony and hit that guy in the head down there. This is unacceptable. He's fired."

R: "I am afraid not."

M: "What are you talking about? Why not?"

R: "My client has rights that you are clearly violating."

W: "That's right. You're violating my rights. I was laughed at once when I was a child, and then you made fun of me for not reading good."

M: "Violating your rights? What about the victim? What about his rights? And, furthermore, what about the cost of the equipment you destroyed?"

W: "I don't give a f*** about that. That's YOUR problem."

R: "Correct. The 'victim' shouldn't have been there. Furthermore, you shouldn't put people in charge of your equipment if it's sooo valuable. If anything, you and the 'victim' should be fired for being negligent. If you fire my client, we'll sue. We will sue the s*** out of you!"


Oh, yeah, this is also from a time when saying "workmen" was proper because they wouldn't let women work the lines. I wonder if Studebaker had many women on the line before closing up shop?