Machinist - Big Jobs Require Big Tools. 1938 - Side by Side
by Mike Savad
Title
Machinist - Big Jobs Require Big Tools. 1938 - Side by Side
Artist
Mike Savad
Medium
Photograph - Colorized Photo
Description
Hand colored photo from 1938
Original title: Vertical boring mill, 47 years old, machining 8" railway mount slide
Photographer: Unknown
Location: 500 N Beacon St, Watertown, MA
The Watertown Arsenal, established in 1816 on the Charles River in Watertown, Massachusetts, served as a vital American military site for over a century. Initially replacing the Charlestown Arsenal, it expanded significantly during the American Civil War to produce gun carriages and erect new factories. Later developments in the 1890s transformed it into a major manufacturing complex for artillery pieces. Operational through World War I and II, the arsenal ceased Army activities in 1968, repurposing its land by 1995 for civilian use. It now hosts a mixed-use development, previously listed on the EPA's Superfund National Priorities List.
This machine, a Vertical boring mill or Vertical turret lathe (VTL), is crucial for enlarging or refining the internal diameter of holes in large workpieces like turbine casings and engine blocks. Featuring a rotating horizontal table and a vertically oriented spindle with versatile cutting capabilities, VTLs are indispensable in aerospace, automotive, energy, and heavy equipment manufacturing industries.
A railway mount slide facilitates the movement and support of heavy artillery along railway tracks, ensuring stability and precise firing. Integrated with a mobile platform on the railway, it enables rapid deployment, making it essential for military operations requiring flexible and potent fire support.
The original image had that big tag on the left that needed removing. As for colors, Niles seems to use emerald green, and I did find a machine that looks exactly like this, minus a few flourishes.
Uploaded
July 14th, 2024
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