
In June I had the opportunity to photograph Klotz Throwing Company for the third time. With the roof rapidly deteriorating, I made sure not to miss this opportunity. On this trip, I focused on the details.





A little ground fog appeared in the basement of the Klotz Throwing Company after a brief rain shower during the June Abandoned America Workshop. One of those right place, right time type of moments. I hope to see Klotz again, but given the roof condition this year, I’m fearful that I’ve made my last visit.
Look for a trip report on Tuesday.
Happy Friday!
One of the things I find fascinating during the abandoned building workshop’s I’ve attended is chairs. Photographers move the chairs around the buildings to create scenes. Sometimes it’s an industrial chair sitting by a table suggesting the presence of a worker who stepped away for a minute. Other times it’s an arm chair (like the one above) that was originally part of an office suite placed in the middle of a warehouse or manufacturing area. You never know what you’ll find, but there’s usually an interesting vignette to be photographed.
Last fall, I attended Steamtown National Historic Site’s annual Railfest. The highlight of the event was a night photo session that included scenes at the Sand Tower, Mattes Street Tower and the Roundhouse. I arrived in time for the night session Saturday night and then stayed over to see the event Sunday. Special events included demonstrations in the machine shop, tours of the Office and Stores Building, and of course train rides pulled by Baldwin Locomotive Works #26.
Sand Tower:
Mattes Street Tower:
Roundhouse:
Machine Shop Demonstration:
Ring of Fire:
Singing the Theme Song:
As I mentioned Friday, I attended another Abandoned America workshop at the Klotz Throwing Company last fall. Having been to Klotz earlier in the year I had a better idea of what I wanted to shoot. I wanted to take my time and focus on some scenes that I wasn’t happy with my results or that I missed completely the previous trip.
A.F. Green Insurance:
Spools:
Main Electrical Panel:
Motors:
Gulf Petrolium February 1949:
Tags:
Last but not least, I asked Herb, Klotz’s owner and caretaker, to stand for a portrait: