Tag Archives: industrial

Trip Report – Railfest 2017

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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:

Trip Report – Klotz Throwing Company Fall 2017

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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:

Through The Lens 112 – Klotz Throwing Company

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I made a return trip to the Klotz Throwing Company in the fall for a workshop hosted by Abandoned America. Just finished editing the images, so look for a Trip Report on Tuesday.

Trip Report – Scranton Lace

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Last fall I had the opportunity to attend the last tour of Scranton Lace hosted by Abandoned America.  Sadly due to the removal of the roof drain piping, water has created several unsafe conditions in the wooden portions of the complex.  As a architect, I was sad to see such senseless and preventable damage.  As a photographer, I was happy to have had the chance to photograph it, but wished I had known about it sooner.

Scranton Lace opened as the Scranton Lace Curtain Manufacturing Company in 1890, and eventually became the largest producer of Nottingham lace in the United States. Scranton lace continued operations until 2002 when it closed mid-shift. The complex was so large that it included a ballroom, gymnasium, theater, bowling alley, and infirmary, in addition to the vast production and storage facility. My understanding is that the current owners plan to redevelop the site, hopefully they aren’t too late.

Crates:

The last of the Nottingham Looms:

Theater:

Ripples:

Ballroom:

Through The Lens 110 – Scranton Lace

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I had the opportunity to attend the last workshop hosted by Abandoned America at the Scranton Lace Company back in November. The complex is in sad shape, but there were still some great photos to be made.

I finished editing the photos from that workshop, so look for a trip report on Tuesday.

Through The Lens 96 – Abandoned Workshop

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Here’s one from the workshop in the basement of the Klotz Throwing Mill. When the mill was in operation, machinists would have worked in this space to keep the mill running.

I’m headed there again Sunday with Abandoned America.

Trip Report – Klotz Throwing Company

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Manufactured Reflections

The Klotz Throwing Company located in Western Maryland may be the last silk mill in America.  The mill once employed 300 people, taking raw silk from Japan and spinning it into thread which was shipped to New England to become textiles.  The mill closed in 1957 and has remained largely untouched since – one of those places where time truly stands still.

Herb Crawford purchased the mill in 1978 and continues to care for the factory to this day.  Unfortunately the roof is badly deteriorated so it may be a loosing battle.  Hopefully the mill will last long enough to be saved.

As I said in last Friday’s post, the Klotz Throwing Company has developed a wonderful patina and is full of wonderful photography opportunities.  I enjoyed every minute spent at the mill and am looking forward to another trip this fall.  Thanks again to Matthew Christopher of Abandoned America for arranging the tour and to Mr. Crawford for allowing us to visit.

Elevator Chair

Through The Lens 89 – Klotz Throwing Mill

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Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to attend a photography workshop at the Klotz Throwing Mill, an abandoned silk mill in Maryland.  Closed since 1957, the mill has developed a wonderful patina and is full of photography opportunities.

Look for the full trip report on Tuesday.

Through The Lens 32 – East Broad Top Machine Shop

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The East Broad Top Railroad Machine Shop is one of those places that you enter and instantly go back in time.  It looks as if the workers left yesterday even though yesterday was April 14th, 1956. With the railroad not operating, tours are rare, but if you have the chance to go, take advantage of the opportunity.  You won’t regret it.