Really BIG tongs!

[Ray Rogers]

This is the original caption on this photo:

March 1943. "Santa Fe R.R. shops, Albuquerque. Hammering out a drawbar on the steam drop hammer in the blacksmith shop.




I know that some of you have probably seen big power hammers before, even bigger than this monster steam hammer. What caught my attention in this picture was the tongs that are being used to hold that giant steel bar - they look just like the small tongs we use right down to the compression ring that holds the handles together and I thought that was pretty cool. I can't see how the tongs are being operated but I'm guessing nobody's holding them in their hands ....

[Gary Mulkey]

I would guess that the chain hoist which is supporting the piece pivots freely so the man with his hands on the tongs can push the piece through the hammer. Cool picture!

I'll stick with the 1-2 lb billets that I'm used to.

Gary

[WynnKnives]

I dunno... guys just seemed to be tougher and stronger back then... maybe he really is holding it :-P. Cool picture though!

[metal99]

Cool picture Ray! I saw a similar picture taken in an anvil factory they were doing pretty much the exact same thing. Can you imagine how much the neigbors would like it if we had that power hammer?