Short film about WWII Union Switch and Signal 1911's

[357magster]

Came across this WWII era film by Union Switch & Signal about their 1911 manufacturing line. Pretty cool, so I thought I'd share. It's silent, but there are written descriptions throughout. Easy to follow. Stick with it until at least 6:24. You won't be sorry.


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7XUtgIVo7k"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7XUtgIVo7k[/ame]

 

[Rustyt1953]

Thanks..a very interesting film.

A shout out to The Cincinnati Milling Machine Co.

 

[Kurusu]

Thank you for sharing.

 

[DeathGrip]

Like entered at 6:24

 

[wood714]

Back when people cared about their country.

I bet you couldn't find 10 out of a 100 girls now days that would ever think of doing work like that. No gloves either.

 

[eveled]

That was great. Thanks for posting it.

 

[ACORN]

I grew up a couple miles from US&S. Would love to have one.
Wouldn't mind a 6:24 either.
You have to give credit to ladies back home for their labors.
FWIW my grandmother worked on the bomb line of U.S. Steel's Christy Park Works in the war years.

 

[DWalt]

I think that video was the subject of another posting here a year or two ago.

 

[DeathGrip]

Those girls worked in some nasty conditions. Lot's of oil in the air and it stinks. I worked in a machine shop briefly making Universal M-1 carbines. I quit because of the oil. I broke out really bad. must have been about '79.

 

[target tech]

Thanks for digging that up, I really enjoyed that. I used to drive through Swissvale, past USS&S on my way to PIA in the late 80s. Like the rest of this country's manufacturing capabilities, It was torn down for a shopping plaza.

 

[steelslaver]

Back when people cared about their country.

I bet you couldn't find 10 out of a 100 girls now days that would ever think of doing work like that. No gloves either.

Gloves around milling machines, drill presses and lathes are a huge NO NO. You hang even a little corner of a glove up on a spinning piece and you'll be luck if you only lose a finger. Know of a machinist who hung the tip of a glove in a drill would up the glove then pulled some of the tendons out of his arm. Ruined it

 

[DWalt]

Gloves around milling machines, drill presses and lathes are a huge NO NO. You hang even a little corner of a glove up on a spinning piece and you'll be luck if you only lose a finger. Know of a machinist who hung the tip of a glove in a drill would up the glove then pulled some of the tendons out of his arm. Ruined it

Likewise long hair. A definite risk of getting scalped. Women machinists and other machine operators usually had to have their hair clipped short or wear a turban-like bandana. Wearing rings (both men and women) can also be a serious safety hazard if working around rotating or reciprocating tools and equipment.

 

[ACORN]

While my grandmother was on the bomb line they were told to push the casings down the line with the palms of their hand and keep their fingers clear. The woman beside her didn't and caught her fingers. She yanked her hand back, pulled the glove off, and quickly put it back on. My grandmother asked if she was alright, and asked to see her hand. The woman refused. My grandmother told the foreman and they pulled her off the line. She lost the end of multiple fingers.

 

[Texas Star]

How many pistols did US&S make?

Is this the firm that only made 500, and most went to the USAAF?

 

[ACORN]

No expert, but I believe that you're thinking if the Singer 1911s.
According to Turnbull's site US&S produced 55,000 1911's

 

[jpage]

Wouldn't be surprised if the security guard at the loading-dock, was carrying a DSC Victory.

 

[CustomChevyGuy]

Very cool to see a back in the day film like that. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Texas Star]

No expert, but I believe that you're thinking if the Singer 1911s.
According to Turnbull's site US&S produced 55,000 1911's

I think you're right. I'm having allergy problems today and can't think straight.

 

[DWalt]

Allegedly, Singer made only 500 1911A1s on an "Educational" contract, but apparently the Army decided that Singer's manufacturing capabilities were needed more for other items. It's said that all of them went to the AAF. Same thing happened to US&S - a decision was made that the railroad equipment US&S made was more essential to defense needs than pistols.

 

[ACORN]

Allegedly, Singer made only 500 1911A1s on an "Educational" contract, but apparently the Army decided that Singer's manufacturing capabilities were needed more for other items. It's said that all of them went to the AAF. Same thing happened to US&S - a decision was made that the railroad equipment US&S made was more essential to defense needs than pistols.

A friend of a friend claimed to have a Singer. To the best of my knowledge my friend never actually saw it so it might have been BS.
The friend and his friend both have passed on so I'll never know.
Sort of like Bigfoot.