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Originally posted by jurassic
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My grandfather and uncle both worked at Standard Foundry in Racine in the 1940s. But I don't know if they were still making motorcycle cylinders at that time. As a kid in Racine, I remember walking along the lakefront where they had dumped tons and tons of discarded casting sands. There were also pieces of metal and bad castings, but I don't remember seeing any of these.
On the way to my aunt's house on the North Side of Racine, we would drive right past Standard Foundry and Belle City Foundry (across the street from each other). There was always a POWERFUL stink in the air and my dad would say: "That's the foundry you smell" and my mom would say: "My dad and brother worked there." I think it's all torn down now. Part of it is an urban prison I believe.
Also, one time I was walking along the RR tracks near Racine Junction and picked up a rough forged connecting rod casting. That was right near where the Mitchell Motor Co. was located. In fact, we used to play on the old wooden loading platform from the Mitchell Co. I even went to Mitchell School, probably the only school in the world (sort of) named after a motorcycle!
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