Bethlehem Steel
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Nice Photos
  • Touring Bethlehem
  • A Fine Addition To Industrial Photography
Bethlehem Steel
Andrew Garn
Manufacturer: Princeton Architectural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  1. Crisis In Bethlehem Crisis In Bethlehem
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ASIN: 156898197X

Book Description

Many of America's most impressive structures—from the Chrysler Building to the George Washington Bridge to the Panama Canal—as well as its battleships, railroads, and automobiles had their origins in the Bethlehem Steel plant in eastern Pennsylvania. Although still in operation, much of the plant, which stretches nearly five miles and comprises hundreds of interlinked buildings, is now being torn down.
Photographer Andrew Garn has been documenting this industrial leviathan for more than five years. His photographs, reproduced here in duotone, capture the essential quality of this potent symbol of our industrial heritage. Also included are archival images and drawings, and a brief history by Lance Metz, the foremost authority on the plant.
This is the third title in our series on icons of industrial America, following Wood Burners and Grain Elevators.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Nice Photos.......2005-08-17

Great photos of the now-defunct Bethlehem Steel plant in Pennsy. Photos are all shot in black-and-white format and capture the ghostly and grungy aspect of this abandoned site.

5 out of 5 stars Touring Bethlehem.......2000-06-06

Andrew Garn's "Bethlehem Steel" offers a glimpse of a now-defunct steel plant, a plant once alive with power, energy and productivity. Garn's photos convey an ominous sense of the encroaching loneliness and desolation, as the mighty plant ceases production. After looking through the book I had this urge to enter the world of Bethlehem Steel, run around the grounds, and explore every mysterious alcove and dark corner. Personal favorites include "Baskets for workers' personal belongings, hung from the ceiling in the welfare room" (page 66); "The forge division at night" (page 73); "Monitor on the roof of the steel foundry," (page 79); "Open-hearth furnaces" (page 80); "Tool steel shop interior" (page 89); "Blast furnace at night with crows" (page 107).

4 out of 5 stars A Fine Addition To Industrial Photography.......1999-12-02

This is a wonderful book of photographs of the now-closed Bethlehem Steel plant in Bethlehem, PA. The first part of the book provides a history of the company and plant. Beautiful black and white photos complete the book. If you enjoy industrial photography in general, or steel mills in particular, you will appreciate this book. My only complaint is the book format size. There are so many details in each photograph that you really need a larger page size to fully appreciate the subject matter. The book is fairly priced and well-worth owning.
Crisis In Bethlehem
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent book on the downward spiral of a once mighty company
  • A Sad Story... and a personal one.
  • A Must-Read for US Industries - Now We Need an Epilogue
Crisis In Bethlehem
John Strohmeyer
Manufacturer: University of Pittsburgh Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0822958112

Book Description

Pulitzer Prize winner John Strohmeyer’s account of the collapse of Bethlehem Steel. As editor of the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Globe-Times from 1956 to 1984, Strohmeyer followed the steel industry from the height of its power through its decline. He evaluates the self-indulgence of both the unions and industry management and movingly describes the human agony caused by the failure of steel. His account is reinforced by over one hundred interviews with steelworkers, union leaders, steel executives, and industry analysts. First issued in 1986, the book is more significant than ever. In this edition, Strohmeyer includes an update on steel today.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent book on the downward spiral of a once mighty company.......2005-12-19

I worked for Bethlehem Steel during the latter time period that this book covers and I knew some of the players Strohmeyer mentioned. No one could have better described the times and circumstances that brought down this mammoth company as well this book did. Unfortunately, Strohmeyer died before the bitter end of Bethlehem Steel and so was not able to chronicle it's dying moments. At 99 years old, Bethlehem ceased to exist on December 31, 2003. The company's plants and other assets were either donated to a historical society or purchased at pennnies on the dollar by International Steel Group, a newly formed steel company which successfully revived several bankrupt steel companies and merged them together into a cohesive business. International Steel Group was subsequently purchased by Mittal Steel of the Netherlands and designated Mittal Steel USA. The old Bethlehem plants continue to operate under the new owner. This book is a fascinating, easy to read chronicle of corporate blundering so profound that one wonders how the company lasted for nearly a century. Sadly, even in its last days, Bethlehem managers simply couldn't fathom the drastic changes that were needed to save the company.

5 out of 5 stars A Sad Story... and a personal one........2004-11-09

Bethlehem Steel is a huge part of my family history. My mother, father and both of their fathers all were employed for many years by this once-great company. Complacency seems too mild a word for what ailed this company. This book documents the fall of Bethlehem Steel [inventor of the H-beam... predecessor to the I-beam necessary for many of the tall buildings and skyscrapers we have today]. I really like this book but I am probably biased as I grew up in Baltimore, MD and Bethelehem, PA. Billy Joel even wrote a song about the influence of this company [not a pretty picture] in his song "Allentown". There's a lot of history here and a lot of explanation for why I had to leave all my childhood friends behind when the company started falling apart.

5 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for US Industries - Now We Need an Epilogue.......2004-09-29

This was a fascinating page-turner, written by someone who was intimately familiar with Bethlehem Steel because he lived in its home town for decades, serving as the editor of the local paper. One of the best non-fiction (I almost didn't qualify this statement with that word) books I've read in a long time. Now that The Steel is gone forever, I'd love to be able to persuade Mr. Strohmeyer to write a companion volume to this one telling us just how the end came, in the same detailed analytic manner. We might be able to learn from others' mistakes. The failure of this once great company is a tragedy and is a sad example of what happens when American labor, management, and government all become too arrogant and complacent. Bye-bye profits. Bye-bye jobs. What's next? Bye-bye national defense? If steel was The Basic Industry, then everyone working in industrial America needs to read this book. Sooner or later, you'll probably deal with some of the issues raised here.
Steel Titan : The Life of Charles M. Schwab
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Steel Titan : The Life of Charles M. Schwab
    Robert Hessen
    Manufacturer: University of Pittsburgh Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0822959062

    Book Description

    Business genius and hedonist, Charles Schwab entered the steel industry as an unskilled laborer and within twenty years advanced to the presidency of Carnegie Steel. He later became the first president of U.S. Steel and then founder of Bethlehem Steel. His was one of the most spectacular and curious success stories in an era of great industrial giants.



    How did Schwab progress from day laborer to titan of industry? Why did Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan select him to manage their multmillion-dollar enterprises? And how did he forfeit their confidence and lose the preseidency of U.S. Steel? Drawing upon previously undiscovered sources, Robert Hessen answers these questions in the first biography of Schwab.

    Bethlehem Manual of Steel Construction: Structural Shapes Information and Tables: Catalog S-47
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Bethlehem Manual of Steel Construction: Structural Shapes Information and Tables: Catalog S-47

      Manufacturer: Bethlehem Steel Co.
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover
      ASIN: B000F4J7XC
      6 ASTM Specifications: Steel for Construction
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        6 ASTM Specifications: Steel for Construction
        Bethlehem Steel
        Manufacturer: Bethlehem Steel
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback
        ASIN: B000KPJDKI
        American Citizenship
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          American Citizenship
          Bethlehem Steel Company
          Manufacturer: George W. Vary
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover
          ASIN: B000QWTNL4
          Backcountry Crucibles: The Lehigh Valley from Settlement to Steel
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Backcountry Crucibles: The Lehigh Valley from Settlement to Steel

            Manufacturer: Lehigh University Press
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover

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            Beam Column Tables for Structural Shapes - A36 Steel (Steel Design File - Design Date From Bethlehem Steel)
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Beam Column Tables for Structural Shapes - A36 Steel (Steel Design File - Design Date From Bethlehem Steel)
              Bethlehem Steel
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Spiral-bound
              ASIN: B000MBW6CW
              Beam Column Tables for Structural Shapes - Bethlehem V50 Steel (Steel Design File - Design Data from Bethlehem Steel)
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                Beam Column Tables for Structural Shapes - Bethlehem V50 Steel (Steel Design File - Design Data from Bethlehem Steel)
                Bethlehem Steel
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Spiral-bound
                ASIN: B000MBY0EE
                Bethlehem Alloy and Special Steels Bars, Billets, Blooms and Slabs  catalog-107
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Bethlehem Alloy and Special Steels Bars, Billets, Blooms and Slabs catalog-107
                  Bethlehem Steel Co.
                  Manufacturer: Bethlehem Steel Co.
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Leather Bound
                  ASIN: B000K031K6

                  Manga University: I-C Background Collection Workbook Volume 2: High Rises and City Streets (Manga University: I-C Background Collection Workbook)
                  Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                  • Handy & Useful Reference!
                  Manga University: I-C Background Collection Workbook Volume 2: High Rises and City Streets (Manga University: I-C Background Collection Workbook)
                  Various
                  Manufacturer: Japanime
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

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                  ASIN: 4998069063

                  Book Description

                  Devoted to designing realistic backgrounds based on the futuristic Tokyo cityscape, this book features 16 professional-quality, copyright-free background illustrations that artists are encouraged to study, trace, photocopy or cut out and use in their own manga

                  Customer Reviews:

                  4 out of 5 stars Handy & Useful Reference!.......2005-01-26

                  The Manga University Background Collection Workbook is actually a collection of pre-drawn backgrounds that you can use for your own manga works. There are currently about 3 workbooks; this second part being a background collection of highrise buildings and city streets in Japan.

                  The pictures are divided into 2 parts; one in plain ink, and the other fully done in ink and tone. Depending on your preferences, you can use the one in plain ink and do your own “toning”, or you can just used the finished background.

                  There’s also an “advanced technique” section that teaches you advanced screen tones technique. Personally, I find this greatly useful and handy, although I would greatly appreciate if there were MORE examples in the book! It seems a little too “thin”, but then again, maybe that’s why it’s called a “workbook”. -_-0

                  Overall, the workbook makes for a really handy reference for both beginners and intermediate artists alike. Give this a try if you have trouble drawing backgrounds or would like to learn and practice drawing backgrounds.

                  Teapot Opera
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Teapot Opera
                    Arthur Tress
                    Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

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                    ASIN: 0896598152
                    The teapot opera =: Tippoto opera
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      The teapot opera =: Tippoto opera
                      Arthur Tress
                      Manufacturer: Goro International Press Co., Ltd
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Unknown Binding

                      GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                      ASIN: B0007BF200
                      Teapot Opera.
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Teapot Opera.
                        Arthur. Tress
                        Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Hardcover
                        ASIN: B000P103AQ

                        Ciudadano Can / Citizen Dog
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          Ciudadano Can / Citizen Dog
                          Mark O'Hare
                          Manufacturer: Public Square Books
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback
                          ASIN: 1594970726

                          Book Description

                          Average guy Mel has a new friend moving in, but the arrangement isn't working out the way he had anticipated. You see, he was expecting his new dog to be the loyal, trustworthy, man's-best-friend kind of housemate. Instead, Fergus is turning his world inside out, and the neighbors are starting to talk. Plenty of laugh-out-loud humor in this popular title.

                          Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President : Wit and Wisdom from the Front Row at the White House
                          Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
                          • Full of wit, but no surprises
                          • The Side of Important men Few Get to See
                          • Was not very funny
                          • Not a lot of wit and barely any wisdom
                          • I liked it
                          Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President : Wit and Wisdom from the Front Row at the White House
                          Helen Thomas
                          Manufacturer: Scribner
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback

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                          Amazon.com

                          Penzler Pick, April 2002: The second novel by Baine Kerr is, like his first, Harmful Intent, a densely plotted thriller with the threads of the story meandering here and there, the author apparently in no hurry to get to the crux of his story. It is a device that, in the hands of a less talented writer, might frustrate the reader, but here it is a pleasure to go along for the ride during which a richly textured story infolds.

                          It begins on December 25, 1993, in Laramie, Wyoming. June Mooney, the only female engineer at the train yard, has signed up for duty on Christmas Day because her daughter is with June's ex. Dale Stillwell, a loner, has also signed up for duty. In the middle of a raging blizzard, June is in the trailing cab of a locomotive, steering it through the yard while Dale hangs off the lead engine checking switches and giving the go ahead. As June's engine starts down a line to a spur, an outbound coal train stands in the cutoff. Dale is straining to see through the snow and, as he glimpses the cowcatchers of the coal train close in with 6 inches to spare, he clambers up the rungs of his engine, misses one, loses his hold, and slips between the trains. He is rolled and then dropped with two collapsed lungs, 11 broken bones, and a bolt jammed into his skull. June never saw a thing.

                          This story is told by Elliott Stone, the court-appointed conservator for Dale Stillwell in the matter of Stillwell vs. The Western Pacific Railroad. As conservator, Elliott is making sure the financial settlement being hammered out between the lawyers for each side is fair. June is there, but now she's June Stillwell, having married Dale and devoted her life to nursing him. June reminds Elliott of his wife who, two years earlier, died unexpectedly. Elliott doesn't really want this job, but he is persuaded to take the case by Stillwell's doctor, Hans Leitner. Elliott owes Leitner a favor for getting him an appointment in The Hague to join the prosecutor's office at the United Nations criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The settlement is agreed upon and Elliott can leave for Europe but, as he leaves the courthouse, he overhears Dale Stillwell muttering over and over "I'm going to k-kill her!"

                          Two years pass and Elliott returns to discover that June Stillwell is in the Colfax Center for Rehabilitation with other hopeless patients after being brutally attacked in her bed by person or persons unknown and with an object which nobody can identify.

                          The stage is set. When a series of deaths occur at the Colfax Center, Elliott is in a unique position to connect the deaths at Colfax with European war crimes--and that connection is shocking. --Otto Penzler

                          Book Description

                          In a natural follow-up to her national bestseller Front Row at the White House, the dean of the White House press corps presents a vivid and personal chronicle of the American presidency. Currently a columnist for Hearst and a former White House bureau chief for UPI, Helen Thomas has covered an astounding nine presidential administrations -- from Kennedy through George W. Bush -- endearing herself with her trademark "Thank you, Mr. President" at the conclusion of White House press conferences. Here, in a riveting chapter for each administration she has covered, Thomas delights, informs, spins yarns, and offers opinions on the commanders in chief and their families. She tells about Kennedy's love of sparring with the press, the memorable invitation LBJ extended to Hubert Humphrey to become his running mate, and Reagan's down-home ways of avoiding the press's tougher questions. As entertaining and compelling as Helen Thomas herself, Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President is a unique glimpse into presidential history.

                          Download Description

                          "In a natural follow-up to her national bestseller Front Row at the White House, the dean of the White House press corps presents a vivid and personal presidential chronicle. Currently a columnist for Hearst and a former White House bureau chief for UPI, Helen Thomas has covered an unprecedented nine presidential administrations, endearing herself with her trademark ""Thank you, Mr. President,"" at the conclusion of White House press conferences. Thomas has amassed many wonderful tales about her personal interactions with and observations of the presidents and their families that can all be found in Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President. In nine riveting chapters -- one for each administration -- Thomas delights, informs, spins yarns, and offers opinions on the commanders in chief, from Kennedy through George W. Bush. In these accounts, Thomas reveals Kennedy's love of sparring with the press, the unique invitation LBJ extended to Hubert Humphrey to become his running mate, and Reagan's down-home ways of avoiding the press's tougher questions. This book is as entertaining and compelling as Helen Thomas herself. "

                          Customer Reviews:

                          4 out of 5 stars Full of wit, but no surprises.......2003-07-30

                          I loved reading about Helen and her interactions with the White House. Especially entertaining were her descriptions of the Gridiron dinners where she was often portraying first ladies in skits.

                          This was a fast read, fun and entertaining. However, it came as no surprise that Nixon had a dark humor, Reagan was always full of hot air and President Jr. and Sr. need to work on their command of the English language. What was great about the book was that it allowed us in to see a very human side of the working White House. I felt a part of the briefings and press conferences.

                          After reading the book, I could honestly say that I knew more about the personalities of each president. Just by the tidbits in this book, it seems as though Jimmy Carter and Gerry Ford were the most genuine. Bill Clinton was certainly the most entertaining and sadly, our current president, does not always make the best impression.

                          Lighthearted and jovial, Helen entertains us for all 240 pages.

                          4 out of 5 stars The Side of Important men Few Get to See.......2003-01-08

                          Helen Thomas shares the lighter side of nine presidents and their wives with the people whom do not know them so well. She re-tells jokes and conversations held between herself and nine presidents in her time of being "dean of the White House Press Corps".
                          She implies that not all presidents are alike. Every one of them is different. While the chapter on Kennedy was quite humorous, that of Reagan's was less humorous and more about how he handled the press. There are many examples of humor in chpt 1. On page 19 it tells of how on the way to one of the campaign trials, Kennedy had to wear a dark blue suit with brown shoes because black shoes were not packed. After finding out that nobody had an extra pair to lend him and he would have to attend like so, he took it very lightly. He laughed when made a joke out of and found it quite amusing himself.
                          Helen Thomas also implies that no matter how serious the job of being president is, they are just regular human beings. Just because they are president does not mean they do not have characteristics of an average man. By giving each and every president a sense of humor with their own little edge added to it, we see that they are regular people who like to laugh and make others laugh here and there. It makes the president's more familiar and relatable to the average man. Everyone can appreciate a little humor and by showing this average man quality in every one of these nine presidents the people find them to be more real, more life-like. Humans are the only animals who can be humorous or have a sense of humor. Dogs cannot laugh at your jokes, and kangaroos do not tell them. Therefore when this trait is put in the spotlight as the defining traits of people whom appear to be larger than life, it humanizes them.
                          The author's thesis can be argued. One could easily argue that the presidents are nothing like an average human being and they deserve to be held up to a high standard, and are to be considered the very highest of flawless humans. A big deal was made of President Clinton's flaw, therefore showing that as average people, we have much higher standards for presidents and do not see them as being capable of having characteristics of our friends. Therefore it can be argued that Presidents are not like the rest of us.It can also be argued that maybe the humor that is portrayed is a tool in trying to convince the people that they are their friends. Like the method of campaigning, "I am just like you", they might be trying to make themselves seem to have the same characteristics as the people, but in reality do not. It may be a ploy for support.
                          I would recommend this book for the humor and the side of a president's life that we as people critiquing the government hardly ever see. The book was fast paced and very entertaining.

                          2 out of 5 stars Was not very funny.......2003-01-08

                          This book was a compilation of anecdotes from 40 years of working in the White House. Although I found some stories to be humorous, I enjoyed very little of the book. Although the cute stories humanize our nations presidents, knocking down their "God like" image, I believe that there was no reason behind writing this book besides the fact that she could.
                          I found some stories interesting, and I even cracked a smile on a rare occasion, but for the most part, this was just a silly way for Ms. Thomas to get money for a whole lot of who cares. Maybe if I had grown up during the past 40 years she was referring to, I might appreciate it more, but for the younger reader, it offers very little in entertainment.

                          3 out of 5 stars Not a lot of wit and barely any wisdom.......2002-12-31

                          Much to my chagrin, most of the "memories" within the book are NOT those of Helen Thomas. She compiled various anecdotes from various members of the White House staff and the press corps and threw them together with no overall sense of cohesion (save the chapter division by president).

                          I have a beautifully autographed copy of the book and cherish it because I know Helen Thomas has been capable of a lot more "wit and wisdom" in her many years as a journalist than what this book reflects. If you are looking for an endearing memoir of Helen`s time in the White House, this isn`t it. One does not get a feel for how Mrs. Thomas` job has affected her (aside from her usual cantankerous quips which are readily available from other sources), and the "writing" can`t be evaluated as it is simply a bunch of secondary source material strung together by lengthy quotations. In a word, disappointing.

                          4 out of 5 stars I liked it.......2002-12-09

                          What was going on and said in the White House from where she was standing definitely made for some interesting stories. Well written and intimate.

                          It's a Disaster: The Money and Politics that Follow Earthquakes, Hurricanes and Other Catastrophic Losses
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            It's a Disaster: The Money and Politics that Follow Earthquakes, Hurricanes and Other Catastrophic Losses
                            David Russell
                            Manufacturer: Silver Lake Publishing
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Paperback

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                            ASIN: 1563431726

                            Book Description

                            This book shows people how the insurance industry, finance companies and government agencies calculate and respond to the risks posed by disasters.

                            Books:

                            1. Brandscaping: Worlds of Experience in Retail Design
                            2. Buckminster Fuller: Designing for Mobility
                            3. Buffalo Architecture: A Guide
                            4. Building Type Basics for Retail and Mixed-Use Facilities (Building Type Basics)
                            5. Bungalow Bathrooms (Bungalow Basics)
                            6. Celebrating the American Home: 50 Great Houses from 50 American Architects
                            7. Cities from the Sky: An Aerial Portrait of America
                            8. Civil Service Arithmetic & Vocabulary, 15th edition (Arco Civil Service Test Tutor)
                            9. Construction Daily Project Log for Construction & Maintenance
                            10. Daniel Libeskind Jewish Museum Berlin: Jewish Museum Berlin : Between the Lines (Architecture)

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