War workers at Marine Electric Company or Willamette Iron and Steel Corporation in Portland, standing in front of a hoist holding a large chain. They’re wearing heavy aprons and appear to be working in a warehouse (negative 4 of 11). Original sleeve title: War industry workers - Marine Electric Company, Willamette Iron and Steel Corporation.
War workers at an unidentified industrial facility in the Portland area. One man, wearing a leather apron, holds a block of metal with tongs, while another man stands behind (negative 9 of 9). Original sleeve title: War industry workers - blind workers; Doernbecher furniture; Kaiser, Swan Island; Willamette Iron and Steel Corp.
Workers pouring molten metal (steel?) from a shank ladle into molds. One man is holding a long piece of metal in the molten liquid, while two others hold the shank ladle handles. A series of molds can be seen lined up (negative 6 of 37).
Workers at the Crawford and Doherty Foundry in Portland making cores. Near the center of the frame, one man bends downward towards a cylindrical object sitting on a table (made of wax?). Another man stands at a workbench, which is covered in what appears to be sand (negative 1 of 1).
A man is turned toward a woman while using a device to spray what appears to be a mold at Shofner Iron & Steel Works in Portland. The molds appear to be inside wooden braces in a warehouse area (negative 2 of 6).
Three workers at Shofner Iron and Steel Works eating beans prepared by Mrs. Shofner. Each is smiling and holding a plate and fork in an industrial building area (negative 1 of 8).
Mrs. Shofner serving beans to workers at Shofner Iron and Steel Works in Portland. Shofner is leaning downwards towards a ceramic vessel, filling a plate with food, while the workers stand around her with plates and utensils. A cat is on the ground next to Shofner. The group appears to be standing in front of a kiln-like set of shelves with a heavy door (negative 2 of 8).
A group of steelyard swing shift workers at Kaiser Company, Swan Island. The group is standing in front of a building with a sign over a doorway reading “Steel yard equipment office.” This photograph was published on page 2C of the Oregon Journal on Sunday, July 4, 1943 (negative 2 of 4).
This series contains photographs of steelworkers and equipment detailing the steel casting process used for making large steel components for Liberty Ships constructed in Portland (Or.) area shipyards during World War II.
Supplemental descriptive information contributed in 2019 by Chris Horn, Facilities Director for Columbia Steel.
Unidentified men work on finishing several steel cast pieces at Columbia Steel Casting Company. A stern frame casting is being polished in the foreground.
Workers pouring steel from the ladle into molds in the Columbia Steel Casting Company foundry. Pictured to the left of the ladle is Lee Beavers. In the foreground of the picture, D. C. Gore, furnace department foreman, is preparing to put riser compound on the riser top once pouring is complete.
A view of the stern subassemblies for a Liberty Ship showing how the stern frames produced by Columbia Steel Casting Company were welded to the ship’s hull plates.
Two employees work on stern frame of ship at Columbia Steel Casting Company. One employee uses a cutting torch to remove a riser and one uses a pneumatic chipping gun.
Two employees help guide a large, ship's hull casting as it is removed from the mold by a crane at Columbia Steel Casting Company. Note mold half in background with employee riding on top as it’s moved with a crane.
An employee welding a joint on a stern frame casting at Columbia Steel Casting Company. Several other employees are visible working on other pieces in the background.