Some old Photos for your enjoyment
- Thread starter JWFilips
- Start date
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Glenn Ford did a movie about another early glider guy that did an enormous amount of work, but no one has ever heard of. I think he was pre-Wright Brothers. Good movie- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallant_Journey
JonB
Halcyon member
New York City in the early 1900's. Colorized.
My 2¢,
It's kind of impressive(in my modern mind),
that these massive buildings were build before modern trucks.
That's a lot of bricks/stone to haul with a hay-burner
|
>Source: Historical Images FB Group
My 2¢,
It's kind of impressive(in my modern mind),
that these massive buildings were build before modern trucks.
That's a lot of bricks/stone to haul with a hay-burner
>Source: Historical Images FB Group
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I agree, @JonB . I've marveled at modern manufacturing and the precision and repeatability capability today, especially in firearms, but then I marvel even more in the arms produced in massive quantity from the late 1800s to the turn of the next century. It's not hard to find a bolt that will fit a 98 Mauser, if you're going to rebarrel it - it's harder to find one that WON'T fit.
If I could do "field trips," I'd take my classes to Grand Rapids, Ohio and show them the functional canal and mill - still operating and producing flour. The neatest part is the full-blown machine-shop at the lowest level, with a jack-shaft running the length of the shop, supplying natural power to all the machines, which produced some very viable and long-lasting tools when it was in operation.
We tend to look at the past with a bit of contempt and condescension, as if "they" (just "us" in a different time), were struggling in their intellectual squalor and entrapped in ignorance, pining to live in OUR world - the "future," where they would have unimaginable ease and comfort and ENLIGHTENMENT. Laughable! "They" lived at the very height of technological advancement (for the day) and felt as on top o' th' world as we do today. In other words, pretty arrogant and pitying those a generation behind them - just like we tend to do.
I personally tend to believe that a person not only had to be tougher "back then," but much smarter as well.
Aside from the brains, much of what was accomplished before was only achievable through exploitation of rote hard labor of biological beasts of burden (to include humans) which is the part that technology has begun to erode by making machines the slaves. We might not be slaves to labor today, but we have been shackled and are being milked for "data" and whatever intrinsic monetary value our existences represent - so, we haven't lost THAT.
We're just fatter, lazier and dumber now.
If I could do "field trips," I'd take my classes to Grand Rapids, Ohio and show them the functional canal and mill - still operating and producing flour. The neatest part is the full-blown machine-shop at the lowest level, with a jack-shaft running the length of the shop, supplying natural power to all the machines, which produced some very viable and long-lasting tools when it was in operation.
We tend to look at the past with a bit of contempt and condescension, as if "they" (just "us" in a different time), were struggling in their intellectual squalor and entrapped in ignorance, pining to live in OUR world - the "future," where they would have unimaginable ease and comfort and ENLIGHTENMENT. Laughable! "They" lived at the very height of technological advancement (for the day) and felt as on top o' th' world as we do today. In other words, pretty arrogant and pitying those a generation behind them - just like we tend to do.
I personally tend to believe that a person not only had to be tougher "back then," but much smarter as well.
Aside from the brains, much of what was accomplished before was only achievable through exploitation of rote hard labor of biological beasts of burden (to include humans) which is the part that technology has begun to erode by making machines the slaves. We might not be slaves to labor today, but we have been shackled and are being milked for "data" and whatever intrinsic monetary value our existences represent - so, we haven't lost THAT.
We're just fatter, lazier and dumber now.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I wouldn't say dumber. Until 1820's is was animal labor to harness wind and gravity power. Then it was steam to create the mechanical age to about the 1920 when we switched to electrical power. Today everything is run off microchips and software. So I don't think we are dumber, but the world has changed.
I agree. The last two years before I retired, I spent considerable time in knowledge transfer with the new hires. They are very smart and capable in what they have experienced. The split is their experience is broadly in Information Technology via computer and cell phone. In our world today, the impact of Information Technology is incalculable to those of us in our mature years. They also feel if they are in the parking lot at 7:00 AM, they have met their start time (different cultural norms).
smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
When I look at a 19th century Winchester I'm in awe of the fit and finish achieved with the machinery of those times. Also, the hand work of the craftsmen of those years.
We had 3 flat leather belt driven lathes and 3 more flat leather belt driven drill presses in the MGM Machine Shop. Having worked on 19th and early 20th century lathes and having done a fair amount of fitting and finishing by hand, I understand the time and patience it takes to achieve such results.
We had 3 flat leather belt driven lathes and 3 more flat leather belt driven drill presses in the MGM Machine Shop. Having worked on 19th and early 20th century lathes and having done a fair amount of fitting and finishing by hand, I understand the time and patience it takes to achieve such results.
RBHarter
West Central AR
We don't buy people any more we just rent them for a while .
If only we had replicators and a moneyless social system where knowledge and it's pursuit was the most valuable commodity. The fact that Riverside Iowa hails itself as the future birth place of James Tiberius Kirk proves we ain't ready for that .
Imagine what JMB could have done with a laser scan input CNC machine in stead of files and treddle machines ?
Imagine if Divinchi had a lathe and mill ?
Tso Zoa a Panzer .
Imagine if Tesla had been taken seriously and had a backing friend like Henry Ford . He'd have probably settled for Gen Motors .
Instead we used some of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century to end wars via mass casualty weapons ........ While I speak generally of Al and Werner they had some pretty smart folks picking up what they laid down .
Electric cars big deal Edison patented that in 1917 .
Faraday gave us the ability to continually charge them while in motion and while not over 60% it's pretty low drag low drag and would extend highway cruise a long , long , way. Then I'm just a 1939 tech mech so what do I know , I still think a carburetor is a simple siphon tube in suction choke point . I will admit to being mystified by the Jonny Popper running on diesel via a drip valve over a 2 stroke slot in s cylinder wall .
How was that phrased ? " Designs change to suit the newer , faster , cheaper to run tooling " ? Here we are living the dream ! It's no longer a lathe that cuts one hole and gets reset it's a compound 4 axis dual plane machine that feeds a mobile bed and a multiple tool head with a glorified speedbore bit that cuts out moulds with 1 person able to tend 3-4 machines instead of 5-6 to keep 3-4 machines running .
If only we had replicators and a moneyless social system where knowledge and it's pursuit was the most valuable commodity. The fact that Riverside Iowa hails itself as the future birth place of James Tiberius Kirk proves we ain't ready for that .
Imagine what JMB could have done with a laser scan input CNC machine in stead of files and treddle machines ?
Imagine if Divinchi had a lathe and mill ?
Tso Zoa a Panzer .
Imagine if Tesla had been taken seriously and had a backing friend like Henry Ford . He'd have probably settled for Gen Motors .
Instead we used some of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century to end wars via mass casualty weapons ........ While I speak generally of Al and Werner they had some pretty smart folks picking up what they laid down .
Electric cars big deal Edison patented that in 1917 .
Faraday gave us the ability to continually charge them while in motion and while not over 60% it's pretty low drag low drag and would extend highway cruise a long , long , way. Then I'm just a 1939 tech mech so what do I know , I still think a carburetor is a simple siphon tube in suction choke point . I will admit to being mystified by the Jonny Popper running on diesel via a drip valve over a 2 stroke slot in s cylinder wall .
How was that phrased ? " Designs change to suit the newer , faster , cheaper to run tooling " ? Here we are living the dream ! It's no longer a lathe that cuts one hole and gets reset it's a compound 4 axis dual plane machine that feeds a mobile bed and a multiple tool head with a glorified speedbore bit that cuts out moulds with 1 person able to tend 3-4 machines instead of 5-6 to keep 3-4 machines running .
hell on earth. still is!New York City in the early 1900's. Colorized.
My 2¢,
It's kind of impressive(in my modern mind),
that these massive buildings were build before modern trucks.
That's a lot of bricks/stone to haul with a hay-burner
|
>Source: Historical Images FB Group
True! "Dumber" is a broad stroke, but it takes a lot more work on my part to inspire curiosity than even just ten years ago. Once people realize that they SHOULD question things and wonder how and why it works, they can still do it. The appreciation for the contrast between what it took a hundred years ago and today is pretty much non-existent without prodding, but it was likely the case a hundred years ago as well.
There IS hope though. I see it regularly, I just have to look harder these days. Much is taken for granted these days and wonder needs a kick in the pants to kick in.
There IS hope though. I see it regularly, I just have to look harder these days. Much is taken for granted these days and wonder needs a kick in the pants to kick in.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
SW, Their average wage was three silver quarters a 10 hour day and two for a 5 hour day on Saturday. While skilled, they were not driven to outrages speeds of work, that only came with Henry Ford. If you want good work, there is a pace that makes that happen. Slavery never worked in industrial setting as you couldn't beat skill and speed into the same person. My Dad's first job was in a twine mill in 1931, ten five hour days and a sixth day of 5 hours. Pay was $.10 an hour and you were fired every day and had to stand in line to get a place the next day. Poor production, no job.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Ric is correct on the whole speed thing. People love to heap praise on Henry Ford for upping the wages of his workers but what they son't mention is that the sole reason he upped the wages was because he couldn't get people to work an assembly line for the prevailing wage of the day. Standing in one area working at what was a relative breakneck speed for 8 or 10 hours didn't appeal to anyone then, anymore than it does now. So Ford upped the wages to get the people who saw it as worth the money. Of course, with that came all the other stuff that Ford demanded and laid on his workers that people don't want to talk about, like having his strong arm boys search your home, judge your wifes housekeeping, squash your political views or drinking, etc. He makes Jeff Bezos look like the kindliest boss in history.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Looking at the curve of the railroad track in the foreground, I wonder if the wideness of the street is due to some sort of early fisheye lens?
The main north-south route into and out of the Adirondacks and it's lumber, pulp and mines ran through my home town- pre-bypass! I can remember what amounted to traffic jams in a town not much bigger than that in your picture when tractor trailers headed south full of wood or garnet met north bound trucks going back for more of the same at the same time some guy was trying to deliver beer and bread or make a drop at the Mongtomery Wards catalog store! And if the fire siren went of right then, Katy bar the door!!!!! Different times.
The main north-south route into and out of the Adirondacks and it's lumber, pulp and mines ran through my home town- pre-bypass! I can remember what amounted to traffic jams in a town not much bigger than that in your picture when tractor trailers headed south full of wood or garnet met north bound trucks going back for more of the same at the same time some guy was trying to deliver beer and bread or make a drop at the Mongtomery Wards catalog store! And if the fire siren went of right then, Katy bar the door!!!!! Different times.
Mitty38
Well-Known Member
Or a Burnside Carbine judging from the butt the step down in the Reciever to the butt ,and what looks to be the trigger guard. But kinda hard to tell.
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Could be boys rifle but I suspect it's Dad's. Family appears to be pretty well outfitted but a 8-9 yr old with own rifle? I said 1850, could be later - my reasoning is most trees cut down by late 1860s. Pre-civil war (bleeding Ks) there were decent forests but after most were gone, cut down to clear farms and build towns. Anyway, thought it was an interesting photo of a family on the Santa Fe/Oregon trail that started in Westport. Actual photo, not a painting. Interesting, there is a roofless barn in the background.
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