What's The Worst That Could Happen?

[Richard Wasserman]

https://www.shorpy.com/files/images/...-4a55089a1.jpg

1902. "Screw Machine Department, National Cash Register, Dayton, Ohio."

[sharktooth]

The link didn't work for me. Try this one https://www.shorpy.com/node/27038

It amazes me how they were able to achieve so much depth of field in 8x10.

[Don Dudenbostel]

Probably shot with a wide angle with a maximum aperture of f11 or 16. Shots like that had to be posed and all equipment shut down and a pretty long exposure. From being in some old factories there was a lot of really nice light though. Skylights and north facing windows provided a lot of the light.

I’m amazed at the beautiful tones in the print.

I’ve been on shoots in a lot of industrial environments where a lot of machining equipment was operating. What struck me was the potential for serious accidents. A sleeve, tie or hair caught in those machines and you’d be finished. Obviously no OSHA at that time ��.

[Merg Ross]

Always wonderful to be reminded of the way "it was." There is a lot to learn from that photograph, photo technique aside.

Thanks for posting, Richard.

Best,
Merg

[neil poulsen]

Can you imagine the racket in that room? I'm wondering how long their hearing lasted.

[Richard Wasserman]

Can you imagine the racket in that room? I'm wondering how long their hearing lasted.

And their fingers...

[Tin Can]

Those overhead belts maimed or killed

They became Illegal

I am very lucky to survive my huge factory for 40 years and I was on rescue crew.

Seen many bad things but never OSHA

[Rick A]

Those overhead belts maimed or killed

They became Illegal

I am very lucky to survive my huge factory for 40 years and I was on rescue crew.

Seen many bad things but never OSHA

I apprenticed as a cabinet maker in a shop with an overhead main shaft and open belt drive machinery, and zero blade or cutter head guards. I survived in tact.

[pendennis]

Until electric motors made the overhead power-takeoff obsolete, it was the only method to harness water power in 19th Century factories. At The Henry Ford (Greenfield Village), there's an intact factory floor which shows how the various shafts, pulleys, and belts were used for all sorts of machining. While it looked (and was) dangerous, folks did adapt, and learn not to put hands where they didn't belong.

[Paul Ron]

Those overhead belts maimed or killed

They became Illegal

I am very lucky to survive my huge factory for 40 years and I was on rescue crew.

Seen many bad things but never OSHA

those factories were hazardous places to work. a workers union would have shut them down in a minute by todays OSHA standards. but mechanics then knew how to avoid most hazards of the shop. as for hearing loss... wonder why grandpa ignored you?