48" Universal Plate Mill Restoration Part 1 Overview 

That it hasn't been scrapped beggars belief. Thank you.

Thank you for saving American industrial history

This machinery was clearly built by a race of Giants, not by the little people that walk the earth today. What's even more impressive than the 50 ton castings is imagining the boring mill that was used to machine them! The full sized pickup truck looks like a puny Tonka toy next to this mill.

This looks like a very interesting project. I'll be watching with interest. 😊

Great video! We all are so lucky we have your interest and knowledge to depend upon. Rick, without your guidance and extremely hard work, all of this might certainly be lost to the future. Thank you, Sir! Be well, be safe!

This is a unique piece of history. As you say there probably will be no second of this type of rolling mill left in the world, as most of the steel making industry wanted to keep ahead of the competition by having modern equipment. The fact that US steel kept using this mill for so long and that it is been left there when production stopped tells the story of the demise of US steel making industry. I wish you all good for this restoration.

Fabulous undertaking! The generations to come will have the opportunity to discover what came before thanks to you and others for the generosity, skill, and perseverance these projects take. Thank you!

Never think of being old it is just a number keep on doing what you enjoy

Great video Rick. Thanks for helping save our history!

At our steel mill (works) the oldest rolling mill shop#4 built also at end of XIX century decided to convert for production of wide assortments of rail fastenings. All existed rolling mills were converted to produced various fastenings after the old open-hearth shop#2 decided to shut down for environmental reasons in late 70's. Original rolling mills in that shop#4 used to receive a 2-ton steel ingots as a source product from the old open-hearth shop#2. One of a few original rolling mills in that shop#4 used to produce an end product of universal plates for other hot sheet steel rolling mills. My great-grandfather worked as a rolling mill operator in that shop#4 from 00's to 30's of XX century.

Fantastic ! Absolutely love this, and your expertise you are willing to share so effectively. THANK YOU !!!

What a great and fascinating "guided tour". Thank you very much! I agree 100% with your thoughts about the future paint job. It should be as authentic as possible - unlike many tourist attraction "museums" presenting technical objects looking like made in a candy shop. My deep respect for your work!

Wow im impressed with this. Im blown away with the magnitude of her. I think the Industrial Revolution started here in the uk Great Britain.

Awesome!

Hi Rick Geoff from Australia I sent you the message I enjoy your videos the rolling mill is no small object all the best in its restoration

I look forward to seeing the progress. Thank you for sharing

... back when America was America ...

Excited to see more of this project over the coming years!

Thank you for sharing. Very much enjoyed the video.👍

I'm just guessing about 48", as we're speaking about universal plate mill, that's probably represents length of some horizontal roll gauge (caliber). On this ancient rolling mill is not many pre-roughing/roughing, pre-finishing/finishing groups of stands, more likely just stands. I also assume that 48" represents parameter (usually that's pitch diameter) of some pinion for pre-roughing/roughing or pre-finishing/finishing stand. When we're speaking about a rolling mill other than plate related, then the number will be representing diameter of a roll gauge (caliber) or the pitch diameter of a pinion. For example, on the Blooming prime mill the number of 1150 mm represents the maximum diameter of the longest caliber or gauge on both horizontal only roll, called it a "barrel". Generally speaking, blooming is simple prime mill with 1 work stand, 1 pinion stand, and 1 shear press. Of course it includes many groups of soak pits, special purpose clamp overhead bridge cranes, general purpose overhead bridge cranes, different conveyors, machine and control rooms included too. In the Blooming complex also included the flipper with 4 clawed arms, which turns ingot 90 degree after some passes. Total number of passes for Bloomings is always odd.

Fascinating!!!

7:45 Caboose sighting! Curious about the heritage- looks like a wood sided car. But really enjoyed this look at an amazing piece of steel mill history and happy that J&L was brought in to do amazing work.

I'm guessing that you would have to restore an old lathe that was big enough to turn that crankshaft. That or a wooden ring that fit around the journals with 60 grit stapled on the inside. Driven by a belt and motor.

Excellent video, so informative, love it. You need to clone yourself what with the railroad, the Tod and this!!

Wow, just too cool. Got to get out there to give you a hand on one of these projects. An opportunity of a lifetime to work on vintage equipment like this. Is the bridge crane really a total loss?

Rick a couple of quick questions. How long was the mill? What is that caboose? In your your free time do you have a regular job? I seem to remember a railroad job. LOL

Talk to mason about cemment pour. Lots different trades built machine. Another museum started by concerned citizen to save past and restore.

Have you got all the original giant spanners you will need for tightening those huge nuts and bolts or are you going to go modern and use sockets and a 1" or bigger air gun?

Good grief they really gave it to that crankshaft. Looks like somebody put sand in the oil. I assume the plan is for it to be totally static. No way for it to move?

Did I miss something? Did you guys buy a new building?

so technically andrew carniege owned this machine?

It seems you were working on this 9 years ago: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eDh-ScV2xfk.html Did this work stop or has it been moving along a little bit at a time?