Machinist - Gun - Getting ready to hoist a mounted gun 1903 - Side by Side

by Mike Savad

Title

Machinist - Gun - Getting ready to hoist a mounted gun 1903 - Side by Side

Artist

Mike Savad

Medium

Photograph - Colorized Photo

Description

Hand colored photo from 1903
Original title: Getting ready to hoist a mounted gun, in Washington Navy Yard
Photographer: Benjamin Johnston
Location: Washington Navy Yard

In this 1903 scene at the Washington Navy Yard, workers prepare to hoist a mounted gun, a moment that reflects the precision and scale of early 20th-century naval ordnance production. At the time, the yard was a centerpiece of American military industry, where teams of skilled laborers and engineers worked together to manufacture and assemble the heavy artillery that would arm the nations, battleships.

Established in 1799, the Washington Navy Yard is the oldest shore facility of the U.S. Navy. While it began as a shipbuilding site, its role evolved significantly over the years. By the late 1800s, the yard had become the Navy's, primary ordnance center, and in 1886 it was officially designated the Naval Gun Factory. From that point on, its focus shifted to the production of naval guns, mounts, and related components critical to U.S. sea power.

By 1903, when this photo was taken, the Navy Yard was fully immersed in heavy weapons manufacturing. Large-caliber guns, some exceeding 12 inches in diameter, were cast, machined, and assembled here before being shipped off to naval yards and battleships around the world. Operations like the one shown, where a mounted gun is being lifted for assembly or transport, required careful coordination, the use of cranes or pulley systems, and a deep understanding of mechanical systems and load-bearing safety.

This image not only captures the physical labor behind Americas, early naval dominance but also the ingenuity and industrial might that defined the Washington Navy Yard at the dawn of the 20th century.

Color notes
I'm pretty sure they are posing for this shot, you can see the guys in the background just sort of bored. Look on the right side, and you'll see a pair of legs working on something, you can see his hand grasping the beam. What I like about him there is, you can get the sense of the scale of these wheels, they are pretty huge.

Uploaded

May 1st, 2025

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