Making fast a derrick guy wire, Singer Building, 1907

It took all the strength of these five ironworkers to secure the guy—one of the steel wires securing the derrick to the building and stabilizing it. Once the derrick is steadied with these wires they will use it to raise iron on the ornamental tower of the Singer Sewing Machine Building in Lower Manhattan in 1907.

The exhibit Landscape of Lost Arts documents the work of union members and artisans building and re-building the landscape of the city.

Ironworkers Local 580 Collection, Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, NYU