Barry Bauer’s Photo Project

Press operator Verna Koenigsknecht gives us a good look at the control panel on a 100-ton press. This panel includes speed control, inch buttons, both regular and emergency stop buttons and a continuous run switch. There’s also a toggle switch at the bottom that can also be used to stop the press.

During the early years up to the late 1960s women weren’t allowed to run presses to my knowledge. Their jobs were basically servicing wall broaches, operating the platers and working in Final Inspection.

All of that ended with the passing of equal rights laws and brought an end to two different seniority lists that separated the men and women employees at Federal-Mogul.

Federal Mogul Albums

To stop the album for a better look — just click on the pause button at the bottom.