teenylittlemetalguy Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 they do not make them like that anymore Heck they almost don't even repair them like that anymore, let alone build 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Larson Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Now that is a dang good question. HOW DID THEY MAKE IT? I have some pictures of the Bethlehem Steel machine shop in the WWII era, especially for ship building, and I suspect none of the machines would be big enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 If they didn't have one, they made one or adapted existing machinery and methods, Don't forget these machines are made of component parts (even though they are quite large parts) and then assembled. Look at pictures of some of the old steel works to see the sizes of machinery being used, I can remember going around the works in Sheffield (UK) in the 1950's and there were lathes that were part of the floor of the building with multi travelling crosslides that could cope with 16 foot diameters and 100 foot lengths, (and possibly longer) Each had operators on whose job was just to sit on a chair all their shift, watching in case the tool snipped and wanted changing, the tool change if necessary was done without stopping the machine, the machine ran 24 hours a day. And of course the cranage required to move components about was pretty impressive too. The didn't do rpm they worked on rph, with turnings coming off the size of house bricks a lovely blue colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 wonderful description john - must have been great to see all that in action.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Another article on the 50.http://boingboing.net/2012/02/13/machines.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winston Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Quote from the last link, "Though it was nearly 300 feet long and weighed 8 million pounds, the maximum variance along the Harvey 12K’s chassis was just 0.004 inches. Source: USAF Materiel Command" That is just amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 just WOW!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_K Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I've just got to comment that another 'wow' on this, is the images themselves. Those are quality scans from original 4x5 negatives. If you made a large print off of them, you could tell what kind of sandwich some guy in the background was eating. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankyluckman Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 couple more..... http://photobucket.com/albums/n302/FTW1969/571564cv.jpg http://photobucket.com/albums/n302/FTW1969/571563cv.jpg http://photobucket.com/albums/n302/FTW1969/grafton-life-magazine-3.jpg http://photobucket.com/albums/n302/FTW1969/076954pv.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted T Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Thank you for posting.Like Jimmy Seale said: WOW, just WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankyluckman Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 Rad! just got this in the mail... http://photobucket.com/albums/n302/FTW1969/img128.jpghttp://photobucket.com/albums/n302/FTW1969/img121.jpg http://photobucket.com/albums/n302/FTW1969/img124.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonjic Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Amazing piece of kit - nice to see its ready for another few decades work! Ive stood next to a '12' forging undercarage legs etc in a single push, makes you feel very insignificant when you walk between the dies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzMatt Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Wow! Thanks for posting. A magnificent machine for sure. Did you take the photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Bryan Morgan Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Its really too bad our nation doesn't make things like this anymore. Sad when you think about it. Its wonderful its up and running. I saw the lathe they use at the Newport News ship yard to turn the propeller shafts for the big ships. Carriers, huge freighters and the like. At the time it was the biggest machine I had ever seen up close. Quite a sight. From what I understand its the only one like it in the US. If it goes down I don't know what the Navy will do for large propeller shafts. I was stationed there for a while. I was commisioning crew on board the USS Mississippi CGN-40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciladog Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPjVSryWC1A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Cool, however all these years on and it would seem like the Germans "still" have the edge! despite all the efforts of the allies. I wonder how much heavier it gets with each coat of paint? B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciladog Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Cool, however all these years on and it would seem like the Germans "still" have the edge! despite all the efforts of the allies. I wonder how much heavier it gets with each coat of paint? B) It is really sad that we do not have these manufacturing capabilities in the USA today. Maybe someday in the future we will again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOONY Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 well its great to the the old girl still got it in her, and they re fit it , it make my 1000 tonner look like a toy, and i thought my baby was great , but if they ever decide to scrap it i make an offer but my generator will have a heart attack trying to run that babies motors good to see that SOME U S A COMPANYS HAVE STILL GOT THE BRAINS TO KEEP GOING Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOONY Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 WELL I SHOULD HAVE READ MORE SORRY, usa has not got it i thought it was in usa go the germans lolol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zadvorney Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 A link to a more complete description. Impressive is an understatement.http://files.asme.org/asmeorg/communities/history/landmarks/5488.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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