Walked through the old boiler house at the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn last week and it changed my mind about riveted drums

I always figured welded seams were stronger hands down but seeing those triple-riveted joints from 1910 still holding tight after 100 plus years made me wonder if we traded longevity for speed with modern methods, has anyone else seen old riveted work that held up better than expected?

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caseyfox15h ago

Saw a riveted boiler at a pump station outside Toledo that was built in 1898, still had all its original paperwork. Honestly makes you wonder if we're just cranking out junk now that'll be scrap in 50 years while the old stuff is still standing there laughing at us.