High-quality black-and-white photographs of large old machines and tools

**Jon** · Oct 30, 2018, 01:36 PM

Sack press (2000 ton) where tack head is shaped - Wyman-Gordon Company, Grafton Plant, 2000 Ton Press, 244 Worcester Street, Grafton, Worcester County, MA

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...s_fullsize.jpg

**PJs** · Oct 30, 2018, 01:42 PM

Looks like Jack the Flash is buzzing through the room building giant rivets. Beauty of a forge beast!

**Jon** · Nov 8, 2018, 03:16 PM

Hercules shipyard crane. Boston, Massachusetts. 1930.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...0_fullsize.jpg

**PJs** · Nov 9, 2018, 11:21 AM

That is a big fella! The mass of the base is...Geez, I dunno...massive I guess...no words.

This pic gives it some scale.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/...alth:5h73s750z

Wonder if this was an inspiration for George Lucas and Star Wars.

**Frank S** · Nov 9, 2018, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by PJs

That is a big fella! The mass of the base is...Geez, I dunno...massive I guess...no words.

This pic gives it some scale.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/...alth:5h73s750z

Wonder if this was an inspiration for George Lucas and Star Wars.

I can see the resemblance

High-quality black-and-white photographs of large old machines and tools-0ebb8420a744cff7d7eba38dd58f3d16.jpg

**MeJasonT** · Nov 10, 2018, 01:52 AM

They have come along way, I worked with Smit on a heavy lift project. There crane was equally impressive. called Hercules. It not the one in this link but you get the idea.

**Frank S** · Nov 10, 2018, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by MeJasonT

They have come along way, I worked with Smit on a heavy lift project. There crane was equally impressive. called Hercules. It not the one in this link but you get the idea.

Interesting salvage video You could cut the planet in half with that cut wire if it were long enough

**Jon** · Nov 10, 2018, 11:34 AM

Tide-Predicting Machine No. 2, aka "Old Brass Brains", an analog computer used to predict tides for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1910 until 1965.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...r_fullsize.jpg

**mklotz** · Nov 10, 2018, 12:49 PM

Color picture and a bit more background...

https://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/...nalog-computer

When most of us think of analog computers we tend to picture racks of op-amps and giant plug boards for programming but simple mechanical computers can quickly solve problems that tax algorithm writers.

I recommend you read this article from the Scientific American Computer Recreations column for some examples of really clever analog computers. My favorite is the refinery locater computer made with string, weights, a board and a washer.

http://www.softouch.on.ca/kb/data/Scan-130202-0003.pdf

**MeJasonT** · Nov 10, 2018, 02:04 PM

I came across a rotary cam controller that was controlling the timing/operation of a food factory packing machine, the machine had a computer but its mechanical/pneumatic functions all came off this cam device. To be honest it was more reliable than the PC, just a shaft with discs on it which contained slots in specific places.