Watch cases to war production

	Milady's compact goes to war as a compass case. When operators at a Kentucky watch case factory ran the last batch of compacts through the automatic polishing machine, they immediately began work on war essentials.
	Volunteers for Victory. The fine machinery and skilled operators of a commercial watch case factory are now producing precision radio parts for the armed forces.
	Little giants. Tiny fuse baffles, vital to victory, are produced for the Picatinny Arsenal in a Kentucky plant that formerly made watch cases.
	The last of the compacts. When the operator has finished decorating the last batch of novelty compacts going through a converted watch case factory, she'll help the plant turn out war essentials.
	Compacts out, war production in. One of the last batches of luxury items is put through a Kentucky watch case plant now engaged in the production of gun parts, fuse baffles, compass cases and other essentials for our fighters.
	His hair is white, but his eye is keen. Fifty years of precision work for a Kentucky watch-case manufacturer, now converted to war production, gave this artisan rare skill in developing fine dies for the arsenal of democracy.
	nother skilled worker "enlists" for the duration. When the Kentucky watch case factory for whom she has worked twenty years converted to war production, this lady was ready to join the procession of war workers.
	olume for victory. His skill in the making of luxury items is an asset for a Kentucky watch case factory now producing compass cases, fuse baffles, gun parts and other war essentials.
	Last of the old order. A half-emptied box at a punch press holds the final batch of brass parts for women's compacts to be processed in a Kentucky watch case factory before complete conversion to war prodution. Note safety cords attached to operator's arms. Wadsworth Watch Company.
	Skill and experience back the production drive. A die maker in a converted Kentucky watch case factory brings rare ability to the plant's new job of making compass cases, fuse baffles, machine gun parts and other war essentials. Wadsworth Watch Company
	Keeping the chips flying. An automatic screw machine that was turning watch case crowns a year ago now works on bomb fuse baffles as a large Kentucky factory goes entirely on war Production.
	Sighting one of the "guns" of production. A diemaker in a converted Kentucky watch case factory sets his machine for the production of fine parts for carbines, machine guns and military radios.
	No time out for eating on an overtime job. Making bomb sights comes easy to him, for he has had long experience in precision work at a commercial Kentucky watch case factory now entirely on a war production basis.
	Clearing away for war production. The last batch of watch case backs will soon be cleaned and another skilled operator at a large Kentucky plant will work on the production of compass cases, bomb fuse baffles and parts for carbine and machine guns.
	Luxury production gives way to war Production. Preparing the last batch of ladies' compacts for the plating room in a large Kentucky plant now converted to the manufacture of machine gun and carbine parts, bomb fuse baffles, compass cases and other essentials for war.
	Luxury production gives way to war Production. Preparing the last batch of ladies' compacts for the plating room in a large Kentucky plant now converted to the manufacture of machine gun and carbine parts, bomb fuse baffles, compass cases and other essentials for war.
	Squaring away for war Production. When the last batch of watch cases goes down the line of punch presses at a Kentucky factory, the trained operator will begin turning out compass cases, radio parts and small carbine machine gun parts for our armed forces. Note safety cords on all except second worker. He's die maker seting up a new job.
	Conversion, all the day. The fourty-five star flag above a worker in a converted watch case factory marks a soldier of the firing line of '98, now a soldier of the production line of '42. The plant makes small carbine and machine gun parts, compass cases and radio parts for our armed forces.
	All of the images were taken by photographer Alfred T. Palmer in February, 1942.

If you can identify anyone in any of the above photos, please drop us an email.