Central Waterfront in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Yard Evolution: New Power and Production
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 30, 2020
1. Yard Evolution: New Power and Production Marker
Inscription.
Yard Evolution: New Power and Production. . Electric power, new rail lines, and travelling cranes of the twentieth century replaced the steam hoists and horse carts of the nineteenth. Thanks to the efficiencies inherent in building multiple ships of identical type-notably the ability to reuse the templates for making the hull components, shipbuilding efficiency soared. Increased use of sub-assemblies allowed work to proceed simultaneously at dispersed lay-down areas and on welding slabs, and to be brought to the slipways as needed.
The yard continued to evolve through World War II, always towards moving the materials through the fabrication process in as straight a line as possible. The most notable change in production was the broad adoption of welding, which replaced riveting in most areas of ship assembly. Welding was easier to teach than riveting and required less strength, which opened up the blue-collar workforce to women during the war. Welding was more efficient and saved weight too.
(first caption:) In this 1904 view of Slip 4, one can see a shed over the slipway in the background-used to prevent delays caused by bad weather. In the foreground, a boiler awaits installation and acres and acres of steel plates will eventually be used to fabricate ships.
(second caption:) This enormous section of deckhouse dwarfs the shipyard workers below as it is lifted by crane to be joined to the ship's hull.
(third caption:) Efficient mass-production of ships required enormous amounts of lay-down space adjacent the slipways. These welding slabs were often used for tracing plywood templates to cut steel plates to shape.
Electric power, new rail lines, and travelling
cranes of the twentieth century replaced the
steam hoists and horse carts of the nineteenth.
Thanks to the efficiencies inherent in building
multiple ships of identical type-notably the
ability to reuse the templates for making the
hull components, shipbuilding efficiency
soared. Increased use of sub-assemblies
allowed work to proceed simultaneously at
dispersed lay-down areas and on welding slabs,
and to be brought to the slipways as needed.
The yard continued to evolve through
World War II, always towards moving the
materials through the fabrication process in
as straight a line as possible. The most notable
change in production was the broad adoption
of welding, which replaced riveting in most
areas of ship assembly. Welding was easier to
teach than riveting and required less strength,
which opened up the blue-collar workforce to
women during the war. Welding was more
efficient and saved weight too.
(first caption:) In this 1904 view of Slip 4, one can see a shed over the slipway in the background-used to prevent delays caused by bad weather. In the foreground, a boiler awaits installation and acres and acres of steel plates will eventually be used to fabricate ships.
(second caption:) This enormous section of deckhouse dwarfs the shipyard
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workers below as it is lifted by crane to be joined to the ship's hull.
(third caption:) Efficient mass-production of ships required enormous amounts of lay-down space adjacent the slipways. These welding slabs were often used for tracing plywood templates to cut steel plates to shape.
Erected 2020 by Union Iron Works Historic District.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.
Location. 37° 45.774′ N, 122° 23.232′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Central Waterfront. Marker is at the intersection of Illinois Street and 18th Street on Illinois Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The marker is located on the south side of Building 49 in Crane Cove Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 17, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
