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| James Caraway posted 28,500 ton O-press making 24”48” Double Submerged Arc (DSA) pipe at Texas Works Annie Mounts: I worked at international crank shaft in Kentucky and they used a 12 million lb press to press out the crank shafts. James James: Version all steel presses were made in Chicago at 1 time. We had several, plus Niagra and e.w. bliss presses where I worked. Their all out of business now due to lawsuits over the years. Only 1 or 2 American power press builders are left. Very sad. 24 yrs as a master press die setter. Phil Vaclavik: James James Danly Press was in Cicero just west of Chicago and Clearing presses were manufactured near Midway Airport Gary Nowak: James James no the owner of Verson wanted to get around from the Union (UAW) because he went to Buffalo N.Y. and started a business there called off the shelf presses. He even toke the Workers Pension with him!!!! Joseph Sapienza Still making this in McKeesport PA (Former USS National Tube Works!https://www.dura-bond.com/steel-line-pipe/ |
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| 1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
They were growing back then. In 1931, sales were $66,583. Their first million-dollar year was 1940. By 1960, it was 30 times that. "In 1947, the company built the largest all-steel drawing press ever manufactured up until that time. It was 62 ft. long, 14 ft. wide, and 36 ft. high. It weighed over a million pounds and took over a year to build. Built for an appliance manufacturer, it could stamp out drawers for stoves at the rate of eight per minute, or 480 an hour. This operation previously required the use of five separate machines.... In 1996, Verson built what was referred to by the Chicago Tribune as the "mother of all machine tools," a 2,500-ton press as big as a house. It was capable of stamping out parts for 3,000 automobiles per day. Destined for Chrysler Corp., it had to be disassembled into 50 different pieces in order to be shipped." In 2001, Enprotech Corp., which is owned by the Japanese company Itochu International, paid $21.5 million for some of Verson's assets. Enprotech continues to produce large presses under the brand name Verson-LCM. (Wikepedia) The assets Enprotech bought consisted of "engineering and intellectual property." (History) I was pleasantly surprised to learn that their headquarters and plants are still in USA. (Facilities)
Update: Steven caught their water tower in the background of one of his photos.
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| Steven J. Brown posted
Amtrak 9540 Silver Island, an ex-CB&Q dome on the Amtrak James Whitcomb Riley (renamed Cardinal) in Chicago - February 12, 1976. I deliberately did not name the exact location because there is a fun clue in the photo. I was curious to see if anyone catches it!
I think this dome is still around, either in Tolono, IL or Branson, MO? Anyone know?
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| Gary Sturm posted Conrail at Pullman Junction in southeast Chicago in 1981. |
love it my Dad worked at the plant in Chicago
ReplyDeleteI worked at Verson I started in 1985 as a burner, cutting steel to specs, there was a lay off and I worked briefly as crain operater in machine shop, after the lay off I started as a welder and before the plant was shut down in 1999 I was working as a Assemble. I enjoyed working there and I enjoyed most of my co workers.
ReplyDeleteI remember working with you in the weld shop. Are you still making your own drums? Those were the good days, I really enjoyed working there.
DeleteI worked ten years for versions until 1971. I was a machinist and worked in
ReplyDeleteThe Bullard department. It was a nice place to work and was filled with many
Highly skilled machine operators. You could see by 1971 though that the company
Was going to be in trouble. Asian executives were flocking around verson shops
Even then. Nixon with his so called great Foreign policy was already shipping tons
Of American manufacturing to Asia. Clinton finished the job with his n a f t a. And
Shipped the rest of it to Mexico and South America . That was the end of Versons
And many other firms like it.
My dad Mickey DeMario worked there until they finally closed. He was the last one to walk through the gates on that last day.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Verson Dallas from 1975-1986. Left after they sold to Allied and were going to shut down the Dallas plant. Was my first secretarial job at 18 y/o. Actually, got a much better, higher paying job as assistant to a department chair at Baylor College of Dentistry. Worked there for over 25-1/2 years. Things I learned at Verson helped in many aspects of the job.
ReplyDeleteSorry, forgot to say I worked in the Customer Service Department.
Delete