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The Stamping Room

There were a few heavy duty presses left inside this building, they were used to make fenders, hoods, and other assorted parts. This page describes the stamping plant in detail, and is accompanied by a photo of these Clearing presses in operation.

I'm standing inside this one for size reference.
comments

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i've been to a few factories but that is the biggest press I've seen!!!
Suzukipsycho815
Thu 02-23-2006
it is a clearing.
spooky
Thu 02-23-2006
I really like this one, holy mamma those are big. I'm looking forward to checking out all of those old pictures like the one you linked here Motts. As soon as I'm done this gallery!
Jude
Thu 02-23-2006
Theres that lovely green color again.
psychadellic one
Thu 02-23-2006
You know Psych, my dad was a machinist for the Air Force, and I remember him taking us sisters with him to his shop one day when we were kids. I remember that damn green on all the big equipment back then!
Jude
Thu 02-23-2006
I hope it was turned off as it would give you one hell of a "Splitting" headache if were to come down on you.
SLS
Thu 02-23-2006
Yowza...... yeah your "headache" would be right on top of your toes cuz you'd be about an inch tall!
Jude
Sat 02-25-2006
Yikes, that would be pretty loud I would imagine...that whole place would be pretty loud.
LoudLove
Mon 02-27-2006
If you stood there when it came down you'd be very impressed.
PeterCW
Wed 03-01-2006
LITERALLY!!!!
A.S.V.
Mon 03-06-2006
Any dies left? Those would be worth $$$.
Dharkangell
Fri 03-10-2006
What were you doing in an industrial press in an abandoned factory you nutcase??
Leigh
Fri 03-17-2006
Nice ,A lot of inf. i have never seen
Thanks for the posting.
jim Schmitz
Tue 03-28-2006
This Press is very similiar to a 500 ton we still use. 500 ton being the max stamping force. Though we often have tricks to exceed this. These old presses are well built. Ours is built 8 feet into the floor mostly for support. also an air cussion is housed below. This one is missing parts. The lower bolster "table" is gone, as are the upper crankshafts and motorr. Probably sold as spares.

Stamp a big heavy old fender, No problem!
Tool Maker
Wed 04-05-2006
sorry toolmaker but im a toolmaker myself. if the crank shaft is missing how is that ram staying suspended above his head?Im not here to put anyone down but this is in the 200 to 500 ton range like toolmaker said but is not really missing much. the bolster may have been quick change , since it was auto manufacturing. looking at this pic that press probably had , oh i dont know 24 in stroke so our specimen would have a bad headache if the ram dropped, unless he ducks quick.
figusmakem
Sat 06-24-2006
Believe it or not, I used to work at this factory in 1992. It was called EWI South Bend Stamping (Later Tecumseh Metal Products). I was a press operator. The roof leaked, the press dripped oil on your head but the pay was good and the Union UAW Local 5 took care of you. I google'd the stamping plant to see if it was still there.
Jesse
Tue 11-21-2006
Can you imagine the noise from a plant that size in full operation? I did a job for a small stamping firm in southern Ontario, and just standing in the parking lot it sounded like an earthquake starting up! A rhythmic rumbling that you could physically feel coming up from the ground.
JEFair
Thu 03-01-2007
My grandfather, uncle and my father used to work at Studebaker. It brought back long forgotten memories. I would not be able to stand in the old press. I remember dad came home early on day. He would not tell us much as to why. I later found out someone he was working with was seriously injured (killed?). Most of these presses were 2 man operations. A lot of the other workers really liked working with dad. Many new press operators were put with him since he had an excellent safety record, pre-OSHA. I could tell it got to him when someone was injured. You can not believe how dangerous these machines could be.
Kevin
Fri 08-03-2007
i saw a modern stamping press in a toyota plant,
it was AT LEAST twice the size of this one, the pieces were tossed in stamped and tossed out of the machine within 2-3 seconds, producing parts at an dizzying rate.
Erika8812
Sun 08-12-2007
I worked at South Bend Stamping as a die maker from 73 to 99, and spent many hours working on dies in those presses. Most draw press operations required four operators.
Mark
Thu 09-13-2007
And now they just sit here.......so many objects and buildings on this planet, just abandoned. Kind of mind boggling isn't it?
Amazed
Sun 02-17-2008
I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chris dresbach
Thu 08-06-2009
Wow! That is gigantic! Thanks for standing there so we could see how large it was! :)
Kathy W.
Mon 11-16-2009

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Memories and stories from past employees, visitors or patients are gratefully welcomed, they help keep these places alive!

 
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