28 Comments Posted by big_d

That is the way it was back then, make it bigger than it needed to be, more mass= more stability, plus the fact that casting large pieces was cheaper than today......

Claudia, I believe the name you are looking for is Hulett.

www.clevelandmemory.org/glihc/hulett/index.htm

These were automatic ore unloaders.

I believe it stands for (pi r squared) pi r squared is the formula for solving the area of a circle. Part of an old rhyme , I think.

I must apologize, as in most cases, I am looking at the architecture itself, and marveling about how we cannot reproduce these today, at any cost. This was built at an exuberant time in this country's history, when anything seemed possible. Understand that I always think that the photography is haunting and evocative, It goes without saying. Great shot!

Lets face it, Detroit is a failed city, and will slowly revert to a more rural state, The industry that built it, is gone, and barring some sort of massive change in this world, will never return. The only hope for cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Gary, etc, is that global warming gets severe enough that water used for manufacturing becomes a big enough issue that industries will be forced to come back to the water, as the Great Lakes have one fifth of all the world's freshwater. just my opinion.

I especially like that giant impaling rod in the foreground, very comforting.
Tristan Kye
Sun 05-17-2009

You know, I never understood that comment until today, when I finally spotted that rod in the foreground...; )

Once upon a time in this country, the casting of iron goods was an art form, because while technology was expensive, labor was cheap. Now it is just the opposite, it simply costs too much to design and cast utilitarian items like a valve wheel. I don't know that anybody actually makes an item like this today in the U.S. All made in PRC, I'm afraid. Not trying to be a buzzkill, but it makes me sad that we are no longer the world's workshop.

Another fine job! Thanks for preserving these memories!

You know, I have 8x10 glossies of an old bottling plant that was in business locally, circa 1910 or so, and the lack of guarding was appalling, large flywheels moving with no guarding, open holes where a lift went thru, leather belts running off an overhead shaft,etc., and young boys of about 12 yrs of age working.

Just think, most of these controls you see have been replaced by a PLC control or a computer program.

Almost makes you think the door is red hot, don't you think?

Once upon a time in this country, the casting of iron goods was an art form, because while technology was expensive, labor was cheap. Now it is just the opposite, it simply costs too much to design and cast utilitarian items like a valve wheel. I don't know that anybody actually makes an item like this today in the U.S. All made in PRC, I'm afraid. Not trying to be a buzzkill, but it makes me sad that we are no longer the world's workshop.

Break time!

Look to be manhole covers.

Maybe gravity, plus the grated floors which allow things to fall thru?