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Marcella and Elibia: 1943

Marcella and Elibia: 1943

Women employed as roundhouse wipers having lunch, Chicago & North Western Railroad, Clinton, Iowa. Marcella Hart is at left, Mrs. Elibia Siematter at right. April 1943. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano.

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Goggles

Do you see the woman with the brown leather coat and the floral bandanna?

I think that my goggles are the exact same kind. I have green lenses in mine right now, although I do own clear ones and black ones.

What do you think? They're at least frighteningly similar!

 

Wonderful character study

This is another wonderful shot of railroaders. There is lots of character and determination in those faces - wives, mothers, grandmothers. They look relaxed but "all business" at the same time. Patriotism in 1943 wasn't just a popular phrase back then - you lived it!

 

Locomotive Wiper

"a Wiper's job was to pack the internal moving parts of a steam locomotive with wads of greasy gunk."

Not exactly. An engine wiper's primary job was to "wipe down" the locomotive. Coal-burning locomotives were obviously dirty, and the soot settled on the boiler jacketing and cab roof. A wiper cotton waste (basically stringy offal from textile production) dipped in a light oil to remove the soot. S/he also swept cinders off the "running boards" (the walkways alongside the boiler) and the tender deck, and cleaned the running gear motion.

 

LUNCH PAILS

Note that the majority of the lunch pails are wartime non-metallic. Also note the mason jars to carry a beverage and the wax paper used to wrap food.

 

This is real "Rosie the

This is real "Rosie the Riveter" stuff! Marcella - what a gal!

 

Wiper's Job

According to a Google search: a Wiper's job was to pack the internal moving parts of a steam locomotive with wads of greasy gunk. Sounds like that would make for a long day in the roundhouse.

 

Thermos Bottles

Interesting that two of them have matching Thermos bottles . . . blue with red stripes. Wonder what they had in them, something cold or hot?

 

Painted nails!

I love the lady with the red bandana has her nails painted!

 

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