Cool Assembly Line Photos

[Keith Tedford]

In the lead booth, air was fed to the helmet but lead dust still got in around the arm openings and you could see it on your skin by the end of the day. You wouldn't go home without showering first. The paint booths were down draft so most of the over spray was sucked away. The painters weren't covered with paint as we were with lead. They still had to be breathing a lot of bad stuff. It was common knowledge/myth that the average retiree lived 2 1/2 years. So much for the big pensions if this were actually true. The guys in the bodyshop probably breathed more dirt than anyone. The sparks form the spot weld guns turn to dust when cooled and create a haze in the air.