Vintage work crew photos

[Frank S]

I'm betting it is more like 10 or 11 ft wide

[volodar]

Thanks Jon. I do find these staged pictures scary, like something from a distopia. I'm commenting on the three Manhattan project photos.

[Jon]

Roots Blower Company factory. Indiana. Probably right around 1900.

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[Frank S]

I hope those rotors were in full lock down when the 3 guys crawled inside for the picture. TO a blower of that size they would have only been lubrication for the rotors if they turned.

[Jon]

Testing the Peacemaker submarine. New York Harbor. 1885.

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[Frank S]

I think the guy in the center hatch had the right idea he is wearing all of his PPE, a deep diving suit and helmet

[PJs]

Testing the Peacemaker submarine. New York Harbor. 1885.

Thanks Jon for a good rabbit hole dive. An interesting shape for a sub to me, but more interesting is the caustic soda (NaOH) engine it used and 1500lbs of lye used to drive it. Turns out that engine was used in locomotives a decade or so prior to this.

Found this article on "THE HONIGMANN CAUSTIC SODA LOCOMOTIVE: 1885" and some vintage drafting's of the systems. There are few others about them but the issue with these was the inefficiencies and more so the hazardous nature of high pressure lye going through the pipes and of course the lye itself is Highly Caustic.



Those were some brave souls to get in a box with 1500 pounds of Lye and go under water...for gosh sake!!

[PJs]

I hope those rotors were in full lock down when the 3 guys crawled inside for the picture. TO a blower of that size they would have only been lubrication for the rotors if they turned.

Agreed! Looks like a blower for a ship. I thought about casting and machining that beast and then "How many CFM is that"? Then Mrs. PJ walked by and noted how dapper those men were sporting those Mustaches of the day! Pics like these sure bring out the intrigue.

And of course would that fit on the 49 Willies on a funny car frame and a ~450hp real 302, I help make a show car out of?

Thanks Jon!

[Frank S]

PJs , I don't think we could shoe horn in onto a 49 Willis. But it would sure be a blast to build a rat rod platform that cold incorporate it. Maybe hang it off the side of a 16V 156 Detroit lets see 16 x 156 CID cylinders x 50 fubic feet per rotor rotation turning at 3000 RPM. Yep that ought to just about be enough to propel a 50,000 Lb rat rod to 60 in 4.8 seconds Not sure how it would do a Bonneville though

[PJs]

You're probably right Frank, the plenum would be 14 feet high on a Chevy 302 and the 450hp might have a hard time driving it. In either case the motorcycle wheels on the front would have to go but the N50 15's on the back might be ok.

A 50k lb rat rod...now there is a picture. Think that might be the Root of all evil rat rods!