807 Comments for Studebaker Stamping Plant

my mom worked there in the 70s she has had a blast telling me about how the plant worked..when she saw this pic she stood up and acted out how this system worked LOL

Where can I find the Engine number ad Chasssis number on a 1948 Studebacker Commander Please.

Thanks
Colleen@rolagrp.co.za
0767553065

Wow what memories I have of this press room. I worked for Allied Products and South Bend Stamping for aprox 8 yrs. there wasn't a press I didn't work at. I ran them all. Became a die setter and later a Supervisor. bring a tear to my eye, the old days

These blocks in the floor are wood and on end to absorb impact should a die fall off a bench. If it was to hit concrete the die would be damaged extensively

this place is awesome

Just images in the grime; we stayed pretty far away from other people inside. It might have been a very wise decision: http://www.opacity.us/...indiana_manholes.htm

I had one of these in my old Geo Metro...

And the sad thing is, if you drove into the scrap yard with this thing, they'd STILL probably take it, no questions asked.

The windows have eyes...

It's always hard to tell from factories that have been cleared out like this.

Would this have been the place that they made little Studebaker components, or was this where the fully built cars got their finishing touches and rolled outside to be shipped out?

I always had trouble understanding how old factories could burn down - and so easily - as I thought they were made of concrete and bricks.

However, seeing this, I now can totally see why. It's amazing this place never succcumbed to such a fate.

This is where old-school identity thieves go to steal personal info... you know - for when that high-falootin' Internet thing just gets too complicated.

They take all the personal information down on their typewriter.

They had this stretcher onhand in case some jerk threw something off the balconies above and hit a worker below...

This is awesome. It looks like, on the right, there's a guy doing the finishing touches to the interior of a circa 1928 car, while the left side looks like a guy doing the final tuning to the engine.

I know you said there were people onsite - Were there actually people on the other side in this photo, or is this just the dirty, dirty window providing a cool looking pic?

Wow... clearly a message from a time you could actually punish workers. I will elaborate my comment with the following story. Hope you enjoy it.

M = Manager W = Worker R = Worker's Representation (lawyer, union rep, whatever)

1960s or prior
M: "HEY! Why did you just throw that off the balcony? Can't you read? You know what? I don't care. You're fired! Get out!"

NOWADAYS
M: "HEY! Why did you just throw that off the balcony? Can't you read? You know what? I don't care. You're fi--"

R: "Um, what seems to be the problem here?"

M: "This a**hole just threw something off the balcony and hit that guy in the head down there. This is unacceptable. He's fired."

R: "I am afraid not."

M: "What are you talking about? Why not?"

R: "My client has rights that you are clearly violating."

W: "That's right. You're violating my rights. I was laughed at once when I was a child, and then you made fun of me for not reading good."

M: "Violating your rights? What about the victim? What about his rights? And, furthermore, what about the cost of the equipment you destroyed?"

W: "I don't give a f*** about that. That's YOUR problem."

R: "Correct. The 'victim' shouldn't have been there. Furthermore, you shouldn't put people in charge of your equipment if it's sooo valuable. If anything, you and the 'victim' should be fired for being negligent. If you fire my client, we'll sue. We will sue the s*** out of you!"


Oh, yeah, this is also from a time when saying "workmen" was proper because they wouldn't let women work the lines. I wonder if Studebaker had many women on the line before closing up shop?