"WELCOME - TO A PART - OF MY WORLD"

( Picture is from an old news paper ) Ironworker working on Cable Clamp's On Top Of The Empire State Buiding In New York City.....The Year Was... 1931. If OSHA, Had Been Around Back Then No Telling How Long It Would Have Taken To Put That Building Up..... "Every Man Has A Built In Safety Mechanism OSHA Can Never Improve On" - Bud Martin -

JOB STARTED - MARCH 17 - 1930 - "ST. PATRICKS DAY"

Ironworkers working on Column Splice Plates. The job began on St. Patricks Day 1930. One year, and 45 days later The job would be "Topped-Out" The Ironworkers on the "Empire State Building" Raised the "Steel" in record time. Averaging 4 1/2 Stories a week.. And in one 10-day period Erected 14-Floors of Steel.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

Two New York, "Connector's" Waiting For Beam To Swing Within' Reach....

"TIME TO CUT IT LOOSE"

With, A Couple Of Bolt's Securing The Beam... It's Time To Cut The "Choker" Loose.....

" HEY-- SEND THAT WATER BUCKET UP "

"RAISING GANG"

Raising gang setting column On Empire State Building. 1930.

DETAIL - GANG

Putting the finishing touch to the steel the "Raising Gang" has left behind.

IRONWORKER - PLANK GANG

New York is the only place I know That carries "Professional plank gangs" These Ironworkers will do nothing But move plank From floor to floor to keep up with the "Raising-Gang" And their demand for space to "Shake out Iron" brought up from the ground. I'm not saying other Locals around the country Havent used this idea... I'm just saying I saw it first in New York City And Brooklyn. in 1961.

MARCH - 17 - 1930

Some say the "Luck of the Irish" Helped the Empire State Building to be built In such a short time.. other's would argue It was the "Mohawk Indians" Who worked on the job. That caused the "Steel" to go up so fast. no matter what side you believe. it can be said. that both Irish and Mohawk Worked side by side along with other Ironworkers To complete this job in record time. - Bud Martin -

DRIVING RIVETS... ON EMPIRE STATE BUILDING... 1930 - 1931

Notice the "Drift-or-barrel pins" sticking through the Beam That align the holes on the Beam The "Ironworker" is drivin' rivets on. Also notice the "Float Lines" that supports the platform the workers Work from Safely tying off your "Float Lines" is somthing Every "Ironworker" must know.

" KNOT'S - A - LUCK "

When you go into the construction trade You will get a lot of "Well wishes" From both friends and family "Lot's of Luck" and they really mean it But your choice of work had nothing to do with luck. After you become a journeyman In the trade you chose. you will find You have become familar with "Lots of Knots" you never knew about before. And some day. One of these Knots may save your life. If you want to call that "Luck" go ahead. But precaution Is what the safety people would call it. Splicing rope and cable Is an art form few ever learn. When it's done, the work is beautiful. Trying to find a good "Cable-Splicer" today Would be like trying to find a good "Rivet-Gang" - Bud Martin -   NEXT PAGE HERE PREVIOUS PAGE