Stunning footage of the construction of New York's Empire State Building in color (opened in 1931)

This film is a compilation of restored, enhanced & colorized film footage involving the construction of the Empire State Building (ESB) in New York nearly a century ago.
It shows how the base of the building is laid, how all parts are produced in nearby steel works, how steel parts are riveted together, the dangers of working at such high construction altitudes and the completion of the ESB.
What many people probably do not know is that the ESB was built on the spot where the famous first version of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel used to be at 5th Avenue (opened in 1897). In 1931 the hotel re-opened in a new location at Park Avenue.
The ESB started with the destruction of the hotel on 22 January 1930, after which the actual construction started on 7 March 1930. It was completed at record speed after only 13.5 months on 11 April 1931 and officially opened on 1 May 1931.
The building was designed in Art-Deco style, is 381 meters high and has 102 floors. Achieving such a height was only possible because of the use of a steel framework.
As an important symbol of New York City, the building has been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The various original B&W footage has been motion-stabilized, speed-corrected, restored, enhanced and colorized with contemporary Artificial Intelligence software.
Source: archive.org
Music: David Celeste, Howard Harper-Barnes and others.

[@Rick88888888]

*Please try to be original and avoid comments like "When men were men", "No fat, obese person in sight", "OSHA will get a shock", "No women on the construction site" and race related comments. Without exaggeration, such comments have now been made thousands of times under this video* . Kindly focus on the contents of this video and make an attempt to go back in time in your mind to better understand what New York really was like in the 1930s. Thanks!!

[@dersturmerofjewery6038]

Back when yhe white man could be a white man

[@keppela1]

Amen.

[@lazychemistry]

Put up a sign outside a building saying "No Pissing" and you will get people queuing up to do it 🤪🥃

[@huntermossakajunkerman9646]

When asbestos was practically food.

[@evilutin4439]

How many people worked on it? How many deadly incident happened? How many time it take? Wonderfull video nand very good job, but some coments are missing...

[@Bubba1960.]

For me, the fact that they began and finished this in 13 months, is the most mind blowing aspect of the entire thing.

[@jonyoder2356]

they can't even repave a small section of highway in months let alone this! So much more red tape and bureaucrat yap yap now days.

[@davidjohnrivingtonmcdonough]

I would like to see proof of this lmpossible time line!

[@b.pack3]

@@jonyoder2356 it’s greed

[@southnc63]

Those whom built that building were fearless - no hard hats, no safety harnesses, just crazy. And they built one of the most iconic structures in the world that stands strong to this day.

[@MrSloika]

in 1945 it was hit by a B-25 bomber lost in fog. The ESB didn't even wince.

[@MrSloika]

@@Only-one-life-68 I'm an eye-witness to the 911 attacks on the WTC. If you are one of those 911 'truther' lunatics, please just go away.

[@joestewart8914]

@@MrSloika Now I think we can all agree on that.

[@borntoclimb7116]

@@Only-one-life-68 its a giantic different between a B 25 and a big modern passanger plane

[@raypitts4880]

@@Only-one-life-68 that 911 thing i m still makeing my mind up over it.

[@michaeltimothy70]

My grandfather was a steel worker on the construction of this great American building. We often would go to the rainbow room and relive his time working on the building. He was very proud of the hard work and teamwork of this great accomplishment.

[@georgefaulk2528]

BS

[@RobinBortugno-dy5ku]

My grandfather was a foreman for us steel. He was part of the crew that laid down the foundation. His name was Michael Bortugno

[@roberteckler177]

What I find the most fascinating about this old film and also the ones filmed in city streets, are that you are looking at people that have been dead for 60 or 70 years. But now there they are alive once more in their youth in some cases, going about their lives, whether it be working, or just walking about their city streets. You get a glimpse at those who lived before us.

[@bubediscuss]

Not only was the pace remarkable, but simply project managing this scale of a build without computers is wild. Analogue logistics at its finest.

[@centralbears3010]

Analogue means reliability

[@bigdaddyjim9135]

Lmao….they didn’t build it

[@bubediscuss]

@@bigdaddyjim9135 Silly me, I forgot it came in a box from the aliens along with the pyramids 😉

[@HereThereEverywhereMatt]

@@bigdaddyjim9135dumbass

[@SantiagoTwelvePack]

Those men, largely forgotten by history, are some of the most amazing humans ever to have walked this planet. Simply awesome.

[@williamgallucci9913]

Agreed the video is amazing

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

these men were kings

[@DA-bp8lf]

I can’t believe only 5 people died building this masterpiece? Everyone working was completely locked into their job, as if there life depended on it and it did! Most of these men were bringing the only income into the home, for food and clothing. This was the beginning of the Great Depression, nobody had a job. These men must’ve felt truly blessed and thankful.

[@aedeenhickey372]

What strikes me is how skilled these men were. They knew their trade. We should never underestimate labour. Thanks for bringing this to us.

[@ericcommarato7727]

It’s really mind boggling this was done in the 1930’s. I’ve been a registered architect almost 35 years and I don’t think we have the where with all to do this today...

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

aedeen irish names Yes too much i. t. /d mind etc today Not practical as was but Hope brian Ireland Happy Christmas

[@michaeljohn9263]

What's sad is that in this day young "men" don't even know if they are a man, a woman, a broomstick, they just don't know. However what they DO know is that anyone that works and makes a decent wage is BAD and they should be taxed 85% of their earnings because the people that choose to not work need money too! All young men should be forced to take a class in school that lasts the entire year doing only manual labor and trades as it might shape them into what a man actually is and teaches them very valuable information that is becoming a lost talent.

[@corners3755]

The funny thing is skyscrapers were a new thing

[@corners3755]

@@michaeljohn9263 why just men? I personally think a couple years of military or community service for young adults would be huge. If they are going to give away free college they should add this stipulation.

[@alwaysright2420]

As a structural engineer I can only express my deepest respect to all the men involved in this epic project.

[@alextomlinson1725]

As a structural engineer myself I can only echo your sentiments. An amazing achievement. I would love to see the calculations..

[@lwoods7283]

Well,i am an ironworker! Raising gang entire career!

[@chriss8970]

Yeah this is a cool video. What a beautiful building. Built when men were men! Hahahahaha what’s funny is about halfway through I started thinking how fearless they were with no safety ropes or anything, and I thought wonder if any of them are even wearing harhats, so I started looking. Hell no!!! Hahahahaha almost every guy is wearing a hat of some kind! You got your fedoras and little hockey caps and shit, but not a damn hardhat in site nowhere!! Hahahahaha I love it! I hate wearing those things!! Ever seen the famous picture where a bunch of em are sitting on a beam eating lunch? Crazy bastards!! Hahahahaha

[@geoffmorgan6059]

@@alextomlinson1725 You can safely (!) bet there is a lot of redundancy incorporated.

[@alextomlinson1725]

@@lwoods7283 hats off to you sir - total respect.

[@akiman712]

This was nearly 100 years ago. I marvel at the ingenuity these ppl had even back then. The careful considerations and math needed are astounding. We look back at this era and think antiquated and primitive compared to today's technology. But as far as structural engineering, the craftmanship and workmanship is superb and stands the test of time.

[@WiscomptonBoys]

I didn’t realize they built this in only a year?!? And in 1930 no less. I’m gobsmacked. No matter how big the army of men was that built it, that’s astounding. So much iron to lift and rivet together in the course of only a year, nevermind 4-5 months or cold New York winter to deal with. Wow, just wow.

[@user-eb5cb6ud1p]

The planning and logistics that went into the ESB were *amazing.* Pretty much everything was pre-tested to make sure it would fit properly on installation, and deliveries etc. were scheduled to keep waiting times down to near zero. Today it takes forever just to assemble a kids' sandbox! P.S. "never mind" is two words. "Nevermind" was that Kurt Cobain album ... 😁

[@williamgallucci9913]

Yes sir Amazon indeed

[@user-eb5cb6ud1p]

@@williamgallucci9913 👍👍👍

[@Giggiyygoo]

Built in a year, during a depression. Designed without computers. We can't even fill a pothole in a year today. Hats off to these guys. Edit - Why the hell is there a flat earth argument going on in the comments? Grow up and read a book.

[@nahshonimmanuel1704]

Looool right!!

[@howieduin915]

Ya. But we know how to fake a moon landing.

[@debrapaulino918]

Pause and think on this: 1830 - 1930. 100 years. 1730 - 1830. Lewis & Clark 1830-33 went up the Missouri to Pacific. 1830 in Europe marked end of feudalism. Tenant land workers had to pay title or quit land. Suddenly impoverished they went to city factories. Population bourgeoning and city poverty sent them to America.

[@DJTasawennatekensMusicWorld]

Except for back in the early 1900s they did have computers not like we do today but they had computers that would calculate numbers and things

[@robertcarli1969]

@@howieduin915 be serious bro.

[@stephlyons2304]

I am proud to be a 4th generation Dockbuilder / Timberman journeyman with local union 1556 NYC , my family has been a part of every single major project in NYC since late 1800s until today. From the Chrysler building to twin towers then world trade and any bridge or tunnel. Both my son and my nephew will be apprenticing very soon making it 5 gens. These men are the backbone of this country , we risk out lives everyday so the people of NYC and anyone else the ability to travel safely and fast , love or work and the best built skyscrapers in the world. Technology is great , but it's useless without the people who can use it. God bless them all.

[@davidmcgennity3182]

A proud heritage ,well done.

[@whtpwr]

Yeah but do you live in NYC?

[@arthurtats]

The fact that this only took 1 year to build is mind blowing

[@barrykery1175]

When it comes to delivering the steel for that building, remember one thing.... There was no massive open field across the street that they could lay all of the steel so they could work from. All of the deliveries had to be choreographed with the Bethlehem Steel plant so each beam had to be delivered on the day and time needed. Barry G. Kery, Retired Bethlehem Steel worker.

[@peterharris38]

Didn't they deliver 1 beam every minute of the day ???

[@daler.steffy1047]

I love your word "choreographed," which captures beautifully so much of what was involved in the building of this incredible structure.

[@scottnyc6572]

Both my Grandparents,Dad along with his brothers were all ironworkers in NYC.My Grandfather worked on Rockefeller Center around the same time the Empire State Building was going up.He can be seen sitting on the beam alongside other ironworkers during lunch.Its the famous image seen today by millions.Back then they would’ve never thought how popular that picture would become.

[@bruceb3786]

I have seen that exact photo AND Video !! CRAZY people..... but nothing to them... everyday work !! Makes my palms and feet sweat just to watch it !!! The Native American Indians had a large group of Ironworkers doing this also !

[@oldsaerotech1167]

$3.94/hr. was the going wage for those High Walkers!

[@valentinooliveri3012]

God bless your grandfather and all those brave and wonderful men who built this great country! 🙏🇺🇸🌹

[@slippy11ful]

@@oldsaerotech1167 4 dollars a day not an hour. Thats what guys were making in the 60s. They were not making that in the 1930s

[@oldsaerotech1167]

@@slippy11ful The overall average for the construction workers building the Empire State Building was $15/day. The "airtreaders" or "skyboys" made $3.94/hr. They averaged 4.5 stories per week. The Empire State Building was constructed in 13 months.

[@dcranch4820]

I got into the Iron Workers in 1977 and served a 3 year apprenticeship. I worked on bridges, power plants miscellaneous structural buildings and a few tower's When i started you were expected to ride the iron when connecting. Also it was common practice to ride the ball to get on and off the iron. It was very hard work but paid very well. I was very lucky to never get seriously injured in 32 years as a Union Iron worker! As time went on more and more safety measures were implemented. Now if you got caught with out being 100% tied off or riding the iron it would be automatic termination of your job! My hat is off to these old time Iron Workers who did there jobs in very tough & dangerous conditions!

[@americanspirit8932]

Construction workers in general earn that money especially the Ironworkers. Very dangerous job, even when you're tied off with safety measures.

[@Jorma_K]

We would call riding the ball Live bait on the hook

[@ShrinkRaptor]

The most amazing thing about the construction of the ESB is how fast they erected it. The ESB only took a year to build, and this was during the beginning of the great depression too. Many investors lost money but plans to halt construction were rejected. What an astonishing feat!!

[@jerryrichmond4707]

It is amazing to see the level of architectural achievement here. No computers in use, just dedicated architects and engineers at their draft boards designing the structural steel and calculating the load and stress that these pieces would bear. Thousands of pieces of structural steel were fabricated off site and fit like a glove on site. Add to that the masonry, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, architectural finishes, elevators, doors and hardware, etc. Quite an achievement in a short amount of time. A testament to man's abilities and determination.

[@gregthompson4719]

Still standing nearly 92 years later. What a testimony to the engineering and skill that went into the design and construction.

[@makadoz]

92 years is nothing

[@samrichards8251]

@@makadoz exactly such a short time. If large structures can’t last for at-least 400 years it’s not strong enough.

[@Gritto1445]

Yeah nearly as long as the Acropolis.

[@greglinski2208]

My grandma is still standing after 92 years

[@gregthompson4719]

It was built to last for centuries. This is a direct quote from an engineering analysis of its construction: Skyscrapers constructed after the 1930s were made of concrete reinforced with steel, as opposed to just steel, which gave them the tensile strength of steel and the compressive strength of rock. They can resist both stretching and squeezing forces. The earliest steel skyscrapers, like the Empire State Building, which date from the 1930s are least likely to remain standing in 7,000 years because they are constructed almost exclusively of steel, meaning they have exceptional tensile strength but are quite rigid and inflexible.

[@jacksak]

In seven years of watching KZbin videos, this is one of my top videos to see. The perfection/restoration of the old footage, the brave workers and the original, rare camera shots are amazing.

[@Rick88888888]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jesusislord6545]

Repent to Jesus Christ! “he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Drrrr

[@bigdaddyjim9135]

You’ve been duped….. our humanity didn’t build that structure…..another way more advanced civilization did

[@DarkDays4]

Shout out to the guy who went back in time to record this for us.

[@davemilligan1171]

LMFAO !!

[@bryantfrazer5670]

A different type of Man back in those days. Respect.

[@williamgallucci9913]

Incredible incredible what these men accomplished from beginning to end wow

[@jenniferlloyd9574]

And their women were proud of them; not in competition.

[@Williamgallucci-sm1cs]

That I'm sure they were

[@geoben1810]

When you consider the details of the interior of the building and just the sheer magnitude of the project, it's amazing that it was completed in that amount of time and without computers. 🤤

[@Anisky123]

Computers killed architecture and design.

[@Anisky123]

Architects now design things that are not thought of in the real world only computer models. I know I did a lot of custom work and it’s nuts how they are clueless about materials and how they behave.

[@wardaddy6595]

A lot less Gov regulations and non-union labor force made that possible! Those iron workers had balls of steel, they built the modern world, todays snow flakes would shit themselves doing that kind of work!

[@shaunsiz.itsbetterbytube2858]

Respect From a retired Engineer these guys are the real deal. No hard hats .no high viz jackets .. just a Trilby. coveralls and hard graft

[@johngordon1576]

Five of them died,...RIP

[@annehat4833]

Built in 13 months....rubbish !....all i see is doctored footage....look closer

[@ron101346]

Please, no conspiracy nonsense. The construction timeline of ESB has been documented in multiple contemporary references, not just here.

[@hadisancar]

Imagine foreigners visiting NY and seeing this masterpiece in 1920’s such as from Japan , Europe,Middle East there was nothing close except Pyramids back then . This was one of the biggest flex of USA , such a masterpiece

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

I have always loved the proud way some construction workers will point to a structure and say, "I worked on that." A working class claim to fame and near immortality. Imagine being able to say, "My great grandfather worked on the Empire State Building." Awesome respect! 🗽🌆🗽

[@Dreadnought16]

The complexity of those base columns is fascinating. All those loading and bending calculations done by hand. Its just incredible.

[@bigdaddyjim9135]

It wasn’t done by these men….another civilization built it

[@imcallingbs1883]

My grandfather worked on this job and he was 19 years old. His oldest brother was also an electrician on the later stages

[@fokkerd3red618]

I'll bet he had some stories to tell.

[@edgarfrank5712]

All these people have passed away but their legacy still lives. Thank you all.

[@Casteeyo...]

Yes.. thank you all 🙏

[@anonymous-vy8lz]

Sad thing no one will remember them

[@rogerdodrill4733]

​@@anonymous-vy8lztheir kids do

[@hansdekkers2196]

Ik heb 30 jaar als monteur in de staalbouw gewerkt. In de beginjaren werd er bij ons ook niet aan niet veiligheid gedaan. Maar als je deze mannen ziet weken is het toch van een andere categorie Heel veel respect.

[@VictorySpeedway]

Still one of the most beautiful buildings on the planet. It was built during the depth of the depression, and every man who worked on its construction considered themselves lucky to have a job. This film shows many of the delicate art deco details of the ESB. To see it in color, at normal speed, with such a haunting musical background is a fantastic experience. Again, my thanks to Rick-many eights for his diligence and hard work on this. Bravo!

[@Rick88888888]

Thanks! My pleasure.

[@jasonpalacios2705]

Very true.

[@borntoclimb7116]

So true

[@michaelmika2995]

I was an NYPD patrol supervisor in the eighties in the Midtown South Precinct, in this area and visited this building in the early twenty-first century with my family. I appreciate this, "wonder of the world" now that I am since long-retired. Thank you for your invaluable presentation for us all to watch 'til the end of time. AWESOME!

[@scottsnothome5649]

Gotta love some guys in full suites and ties right there with the crews in fact, in many shots the crews appear well dressed. Incredible engineering and project management, supported by skill and bravery is a damn powerful human capability.

[@xzox]

These would have been the 'Foremen' or 'Chargehands'. In GB they would always wear a bowler hat.

[@scottsnothome5649]

Is it still retained today?

[@jgringo5516]

I couldn’t get higher than 3 levels without passing out from the heights. Crazy watching those guys running around like it’s nothing!

[@Me-ll4ig]

From the UK here. This iconic structure is what got me fascinated by skyscrapers and New York. I was a kid many years ago and saw a picture in a book of the Empire State Building at night from above. The description mentioned it was the tallest building in the world. I was fascinated. A lifetime ambition to visit the ESB was made 11 years ago when I went to the very top and also got some brilliant photos from the Rockefeller Center perspective. Still the most iconic building for me.

[@jimmyz2098]

The men of this generation. Wow! Real. American. Men. They built this country for us to enjoy for generations. The stones on these men must have been the size of church-bells. Just amazing, what they accomplished, and with the equipment of nearly 100 years ago. Almost unbelievable by today's standards.

[@panismith1544]

Yes, very true..an amazing feat.💪

[@borntoclimb7116]

Dont forget the many million people who work hard today for feeding their familys around the World.

[@jimmyz2098]

@@borntoclimb7116 Not forgetting them, either. I am one of them. Lots of good People today. And lots of very hard-working, conscientious, high-character People everywhere. I'm just saying. Things are very different, and the men of that generation were built differently than us.

[@borntoclimb7116]

@@jimmyz2098 thats right

[@harpalchauhan428]

And the machinery back then wow

[@caryd67]

Rivets are amazing fasteners. One beauty of them is that the holes don’t have to line up perfectly like they would have to for threaded fasteners. If the holes are slightly offset due to production errors, it doesn’t matter; that white-hot rivet can easily conform to odd shapes, and once hammered and cooled, it’s there for life. Edit: riveting is often better than welding because every time you place a weld you create a “heat affected zone” (HAZ), that creates a weakness around the perimeter of the weld. Under adverse conditions such as weight overload or unusually sustained vibration, the weld itself may never fail but the area around the weld can crack, and catastrophic consequences could follow. This doesn’t happen with rivets. Although extremely hot when installed, they don’t actually bond to the installation like a weld does; the parent metal acts as a heat-sink and simply cools the rivet. (the fourth law of thermodynamics.) There is no HAZ. This is why even today, rivets are still used on truck frames, for example.

[@edgarfrank5712]

Very interesting, T you. 😊

[@LouisAloi]

Thank you for taking the time to explain why riveting is so much better in steel framing methods.👍

[@caryd67]

@@LouisAloi my pleasure. 🫶🏻

[@deancrawford6767]

Thanks for that info, although retired post office worker,always liked wood and steel. I came back to this for ur comment on rivet vs welds and I thank you...

[@rymanvrabz218]

I think as a crane operator today the equipment they had then was relatively simple but the craftsmanship to even make the parts for the equipment of this era is astounding. True craftsmen. I'll have to watch videos like this when I think I'm in an "older" rig.

[@jamescaputo5095]

The engineers and construction team displayed incredible skill and accuracy to construct this building.

[@StereoMike06]

ESB is probably one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Extremely advanced not only for it's time, but currently as well. This was build in a analog world. No computers, CAD, ability to quickly change a blueprint or run another stress simulation. This is why it's better. The original design needed to be perfect and all issues were worked out and fixed on site with common knowledge from people who knew their craft. It's overbuilt in a time of craftsmen and did not run over budget and well ahead of schedule. Not known of today's bloated construction and incompetence.

[@robertcuminale1212]

I've worked in the Empire State Building many years ago when I was an installer for New York Telephone. Getting into places where there isn't plaster and offices you get to see the super structure of beams. Later in the 1970's I worked at the World Trade Center site during the last phases of construction. We'd hang out on the upper floors where the glass wasn't installed yet. I compared the construction from the ESB and could see how different they were. The ESB had columns everywhere. That was typical for the time. I'd worked in the Woolworth Building, New York Life and Metropolitan Life buildings and they were the same. Planning space was difficult because of them, Odd shaped offices and columns in a corner were the norm. But not the WTC. The floors were wide open without columns. Everything, the stairs, elevators, rest rooms, electrical equipment were all in the central core. The telephone equipment was in the corners. There were nearly 800 rooms in the two towers. The telephone central office was on the 10th floor of one of the towers. There were 400 pairs of wires available on each floor with cabling running from corner to corner. There was only one source for telephone equipment in those days so everything was common to all customers. Today the customers own their own equipment so it has to be on their premises. As I watched the towers come down before we knew how many had died I thought about the millions of man hours used to create the whole complex. All destroyed in just a couple of hours. The loss of life could have been greater. It was too early when the planes struck. Commuters were still on the subway coming in from the boroughs, New Jersey and Connecticut. Before the recession caused by OPEC we had almost 100,000 people in the buildings. I don't think a huge loss of lives was the terrorists' objective. It was the buildings themselves and what they represented, American strength and power. Like the Japanese in 1941 they'd awakened a giant and felt its resolve to avenge this insult. They had accomplished something no enemy had ever done. An attack on American soil and it was their undoing.

[@Mike_Hughes]

Very good points, Mike in stereo. My very favourite construction is still the Eiffel Tower ! As I recall, the brief was that it had to last for 12 months... The designers/workers decided it would be best to aim for at least a couple of years... The rest is history ! Imagine now, with CAD, blah blah, Microsoft bullshit and virtual fu*king whatever, - If the brief was 12 months, IT WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE TAKEN DOWN IN 13... Max. Please bring back a world where Experience and Common Sense is king, and Esential Safety Equipment is a Flat Cap and some Flip-Flops.

[@AndreaBorto]

@@robertcuminale1212 I must say the West is losing appeal and political power since then. We indulged too much in the last half century on our comfort lives and other civilization, simple implementing our discoveries, are quite more resolute to conquer or challenge us. We westerners are of good heart. What we did in Vietnam or ww2 were nothing compared to the brutality of some chiefs and their supporters in other places. The 9/11 is still searching for a revenge.

[@onedayatime8130]

If you build skyscrapers like I do in New York City you would know that these buildings are still built the same way… my grandfather helped build this project and now I am retiring and my son is getting ready to be the next generation of building skyscrapers.. I helped build the freedom tower and it’s not bloated construction or any incompetence ..when they built this building they lost one man per floor on an average we didn’t lose anybody building the freedom tower… thanks to job safety and certifications these jobs are much safer..

[@usmustdie4peace405]

@StereoMike06 Compared to the Expobuildings, Not so beautyful! Just tall

[@mdm6098]

These men had balls of steel

[@bench7434]

Done the job in Montréal and London between 1980and 1995 on most of the towers in winter by minus 40 degrees and 90 m|hrs winds in a swing stage at 25 floor ,I’ve got nothing but respect for those man 😎👍

[@lisaedenshaw-krieger4241]

I just love watching videos from the early days. Just watching makes me think of living in their days. Suits, dresses and hats. Those people walking. Who are they. What was it like. I imagine being back in time for a moment. To grasp their era.

[@heyitsme1534]

As a child I was always infatuated with this time period in America. Mainly New York. Living upstate they always pushed the city. I just wish I was alive in that era. Yeah America ha fits share of troubles, just like every other country out there, but these people prevailed and built the hell out of America to make it the greatest nation in the world! Made it so great that the generations in years to come would have it so good they wouldn’t have to lift a finger to do anything and hate the country that gives them the opportunity to sit at home all day. These men deserve a medal how they built that city. Literally blood and sweat! Those men didn’t cry.

[@valentinooliveri3012]

Those were REAL men when America was REAL..🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏

[@havennewbowtow8835]

Hard times creates strong men, strong men creates easy times, easy times creates weak men, weak men create hard times. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@flyingo]

Aside from the genius and careful execution of the construction processes involved, the fact that it was all filmed meticulously is fascinating to me. We are so lucky to have these films from this era. Films like these cause me to be curious about how our cities were designed and built.. starting from the incredible foresight the planners had for fundamental incorporation of sewage, water and electrical lines underneath it all, resulting in fully functional environments on which to build these fantastic structures.

[@brotherdon007]

The amount of rivets on this structure, hundred of thousands,they did all the engineered calculations with pencil and slide rule, no calculators or computers and finished the building in a little over one year, so impressive !!

[@kleenk8]

The previous owner of the house I grew up in was a stone cutter who helped with the construction of the ESB. I was told that each day, he would bring home a scrap or two of stone from the site. He built our garage out of these scraps. It is an intricate two car garage, completely made of limestone, no two blocks the same, and no other garage is like it anywhere in town. Four windows and a side door. I ran into an older gent from my town not too long ago, who owned a bar and was in the know. He asked me if I knew the story of my garage and verified what I already knew. It has held up over these many years, but we have had to point it up here and there. Thank you for showing this wonderful footage.

[@relinquishedforever8505]

You should take a video of it with your smart phone and put it on the internet that be cool

[@tastyorange]

I'd love to see it. Is the house in Queens? Brooklyn?

[@TT-ik3zq]

Literally blows my mind!!!! The brain power needed to imagine this and then bring it to fruition… and it’s still standing today.. plus the bravery … so awesome 👏🏼

[@dntlss]

I wouldn't even know where to start,lol

[@DaleSteel]

It's not as difficult as it looks

[@zabamaz103]

@@DaleSteel please, have you been in New York? This was 1930 no heavy lift machines, no heavy trucks, tools are not even close to today’s tools, no fast transportation for the builders workers to get to the job site on time, no other building like it to use as reference, and all this in Manhattan, surrounded by buildings making no extra space to store construction materials.

[@DaleSteel]

@@zabamaz103 are you mad. There's a crain and yes I've been to nyc

[@stevenfetzer4911]

If it literally blows your mind you would be dead....

[@bawillard2578]

Day 1. 3/17/1930 Completed 1year 45days. At one point 14 storys Completed in 10 days!! Absolute precision organization...astounding

[@garyr7027]

Thing still stands today, stood not only the test of time, but several king kongs climbing it to the top... damn strong building.

[@Rick88888888]

Oh please, why make a reference to a fictional beast like King Kong...

[@anthonycrnkovich5241]

​​@@Rick88888888 Why not? The original film came out just 2 years after the building was completed and is forever linked with its legacy. The classic film served as welcome PR for the building; visitation increased considerably after KING KONG was released in March, 1933. The 85th floor is dedicated to Kong, and when Fay Wray died the building's lights went dark for 15 minutes in her honor.

[@canwetalk1790]

Don't forget the military B-25 bomber that crashed into the 79th floor in 1945

[@garyr7027]

@@Rick88888888 because the building is synonymous with king Kong. Its legacy is that it's a strong building even when Kong climbs it. Fictional or not, the building will forever be known with Kong. No different than Japan being known for Godzilla... fiction with a purpose.

[@williamgallucci9913]

Lollol

[@georgyhot1]

The most amazing thing about this construction, it was completed in just 1 year and 45 days. Those men deserved all the respect in the world 💯

[@aasche04]

not one black. so much for their claim of "building America"

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Yes...but I wonder how they made their living when the project was finished....the Depression saw unemployment rates of 20-25%...and construction slowed down very much as the thirties progressed--a very tough time for most Americans.

[@georgyhot1]

@@curbozerboomer1773 that's why they deserved all the respect in the world because they were building it in such a difficult time.

[@leroydubois8794]

Engineered using pencils and paper. A stunning and magnificent accomplishment in record time. (In this day and age planners would have three meetings in the time it took to build the Empire State Building.)

[@Midman1972]

Being around engineering and construction for nearly 40 years, I remain in awe of this amazing project. Truly the ultimate “can-do” testament. Honestly, You’d think nothing ever went wrong in its construction, beings as it rocketed through production. It’s a one-of-a-kind marvel for the ages.

[@johnbrady1211]

My Grandfather worked on the Empire State Building. He was a plasterer. He finished up the insides after the builders got done. He worked on many buildings in NYC during those times.

[@donnaleighjenkins4952]

That is wonderful!

[@johnbrady1211]

@@donnaleighjenkins4952 Well, thank you, Donna. My very best wishes, John...

[@Williamgallucci-sm1cs]

No doubt how proud you must feel

[@johnbrady1211]

@@Williamgallucci-sm1cs Yea, he did good for his family. A perfect example of a legal immigrant adapting to and becoming a proud American.

[@AlyssaIrvine]

Cool 😎

[@mazzholmes2086]

I’m 73 years old, living in the U.K. My father was a steel erector all of his life. He worked on the major construction of bridges, tall buildings and cooling towers. He used to say that walking on those girders was just like walking on a pavement. Those men had no fear. And yet, he was afraid of flying, and would never sit next to the window on a plane. It amused me how my father mostly went to work in an old suite, and a flat cap. They didn’t wear hard hats in his day. He did, however, fall forty feet while working on a power station in the 1960’s. The ladder snapped and he fell hitting a girder on his way down. He landed in the basement, had multiple leg fractures, and he had back problems from that say on. Health and safety didn’t exist in those days.

[@EdsterIII]

These men, these BRAVE AND FEARLESS MEN, who helped build our lives, our cities, our skyscrapers, our way of life did it back before safety was implemented, or even cared about. These men stood on rafters 50-100+ stories in the air with nothing but wind at their backs. These men are heroes in regards to their contributions to our cities. They are men with balls of steel, and did their JOBS without any issues. They WORKED THEIR A$$ES OFF!

[@tomassoyweyvon4902]

My Dad would come home from WORK and blow the Black soot out in the wash basin, lather up, rinse,get a baseball MIT and yell at my brother and I for a game of catch, did't skip a beat, mother had beans on the stove and yelled for Dinner and we made it......WTF is wrong with that,? today it's thumbs on the Phone and Losers trying to make a point by shooting up Schools, no Family , Abortions, and Question your Genitals......Ha!

[@doctorbuggy]

There's still people like that left in the world, far and few but some are still around

[@fasteddie4107]

Agreed! Native Navajos were employed on many high rises due to their inherent lack of fear regarding heights. Great video of American achievement.

[@americanspirit8932]

Too many men today, cannot even put a nail in the wall. They work in front of a computer all day. That muscles accuracy, the waistline gets larger and larger as time goes on. Men today, or bit too soft

[@americanspirit8932]

@@fasteddie4107 you won't correct many American Indians were, considered to the be the best ironworkers in the country

[@winsteinprovence429]

INCREDIBLE !!! HONOR for all mens who build this marvellous and incredible tower at this period !!! fantastic (from France) !!!

[@robertg9444]

This is incredible to watch. So out of the 3400 total workers only 5 fatalities which is remarkable for 1929. Here in Texas we average near 100 construction fatalities every year

[@amanteapasionado6836]

It's amazing when you look at all pieces that go together to make one huge building, but when you realizes that someone sat down and thought up all of this all the way down to the last bolt just truelly blows my mind.

[@americanspirit8932]

My grandmother, work across the street of the Empire State Building. She told me she wants the Empire State Building, from the day they broke ground until it was completed. She had a bird's-eye view. I remember when she told me the stories, about the construction of the Empire State Building I was so focused and intense on every word that she said. I found it extremely interesting. May she now rest in peace. I am watching this clip today, and reminded me first thing, of my grandmother. The day is January 20th 2023. Thank you so much for posting this clips. It's great to see video, and it goes along with a lot of what my grandmother had said. It's as though I could hear my grandmother telling me the stories and her experiences. Thank you again.

[@bigdaddyjim9135]

You were lied to…..unless she lived hundreds of years ago. We didn’t have the technology to build this structure

[@americanspirit8932]

@@bigdaddyjim9135 I was not lied to, I am 80 years old, when my grandmother told me the story that you work there across the street, she was already in her, late 70s at the time. So yes it was well over 100 years ago, but she told me this story. You should never say somebody was lied to, when you don't know what you're talkin about.

[@bigdaddyjim9135]

@@americanspirit8932 then call it what you want….. fact is our humanity DID NOT build that building…. WE were lied to. We were ALL lied to…. I apologize about my statement regarding your Grand Ma. I shouldn’t have said that.

[@Poisson4147]

@@bigdaddyjim9135Where did you get your structural engineering degree? Saying "I refuse to believe ..." isn't proof, no matter how many times you repeat it.

[@bigdaddyjim9135]

You asking about a degree says everything about you and your path.@@Poisson4147

[@user-wg5xl9vo8u]

The 1930’s were the decade when the most beautiful buildings and homes were built.

[@Rick88888888]

I would go further back in time...

[@JosephHuether]

My impression of the Empire State Building’s super-speed construction was that it was directly related to over-the-top organization that allowed the builders to really “flood the zone” with activity and components being fabricated and arriving on site in near-perfect sequence. There were a great number of engineers and designers on site during construction so that “situations” could be quickly resolved in “real time”. Workers were well paid and the staging, lay-down areas, site and labor utilization were all managed for maximum efficiency This was NOT cavalier “rushed” construction.

[@travelingman484]

When we were at our best. Not perfect. But our industry was awesome,and our work ethic was absolutely incredible.

[@deependz3231]

You'd be surprise how a Great Depression instills a great work ethic in starving people.🤣😂

[@iamthemal]

I studied architecture back in the mid 70's, even earned a degree. I just couldn't stop thinking of all the drawings, the engineering, the man hours involved in construction and the financing - it just boggled my mind to watch what was involved in just this short video.

[@johnLA1961]

Men of iron with nerves of steel, and 11 years later they go off to fight in WWII.

[@AnthonyHigham6414001080]

"Given the high risk and lack of safety equipment (no harnesses or hard hats anywhere), it’s surprising that “just” five workers died during the construction of the building. The 3,400-strong task force - often referred to back then as “the sky boys” - was made up of mainly Italian and Irish immigrant laborers who did everything from laying bricks and installing elevators, to setting up heating and ventilation, plus everything in between. A significant number of the ironworkers on site were Mohawk who had come over from the Kahnawake reservation specifically to work on the building. All workers earned $15 a day and on busy days (especially towards the end of the construction project), 3,000 men could be onsite at the same time. Back when it was completed in 1931, the 102-story art deco skyscraper was the tallest building in the world - and it remained so for over 40 years. It was also built insanely fast. Not only for something built in the 1930s, but even today it would seem impossible to complete a 1,250-foot-high skyscraper in just 410 days. This means workers were completing four and a half floors a week. Given the technology and tools available in the 1930s, this was no easy feat." Wow.

[@williamgallucci9913]

Its awe imspiring

[@raytaaffe6588]

In my early twenties (about 50 years ago) I was, genuinely, employed as a steel erector ('spiderman' is UK nickname). I honestly lasted about 6 weeks as once the building got above ground level and I had to walk along the narrow steel beams, I almost shat myself, and out of consideration for those below me, I left the industry. Hats off to these brave heroes.

[@skillz7425]

Hahaaha

[@megansfo]

My father was a 20 year old student studying music at Columbia University in 1931. I like to think of him among the crowds watching this fantastic building go up. For them to be able to build something like this in the depths of the depression was truly amazing. I love the musical score. Thank you, Rick!

[@Anonymous-lv1jm]

How old are you might I ask?

[@deependz3231]

@@Anonymous-lv1jm My guess is he was born around 1941?

[@user-kl1qh7xk1t]

I work on new highrise construction plumbing projects in nyc, did a highrise right across the street from empire state building, I started writing little notes and put them in like the walls at the job sites for someone to find in the future, it's a cool feeling when I see the skyline of NYC and can point out the building I contributed into

[@chrhadden]

it will be there when your grandkids are your age more than likely. that is a good feeling

[@rogerdodrill4733]

U must be scab worker to have time to write needless notes on job site.u co. Owner pay u to do this? Give all const. Workers bad name,u bum

[@ZENIGMATV]

No fancy technology just grit,courage and steel.

[@voronazavr]

Not a cellphone in sight, people just living in the moment

[@Ohyoubuiltthis]

Sure. 😂

[@MrSloika]

Almost 100 years ago. Just amazing. BTW, it's not just the beams that are made out of steel. These workers had balls of steel.

[@allend2749]

try to keep it clean, thank u

[@carolynstewart8465]

Well said!

[@dozerboy67]

When you see the level of engineering and craftsmanship that went into making just the beams, you begin to understand that that’s exactly how it’s still standing all these years later. Back when this country was truly great! 🇺🇸🇺🇸💪🍺🙏🤟🤙

[@chickenmom1370]

Imagine: All done with slide rulers and NO computers! Amazing workmanship.

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

the power of the caucasian mind....

[@theguyinmaine]

Been by the building many times, it's still the symbol of N.Y. to me. The video puts it into perspective. You don't think about how it got there, only it's there. It truly is incredible the steel, the materials and that was back in the 20's 30's.

[@veverettm]

This is hands down one if the best videos I've ever watched on KZbin. That building is so iconic even today. I hope those men understood the magnitude of the gift that they were giving not only to the city of NY , but our country. With little to no safety procedures and no computers? Wow... Just wow.

[@takeonetheater]

when the American Flag gets hoisted up, what can i say, as an immigrant i cant help but get choked up with the symbolism of what our country is capable of when we work together! God bless the people of the past and the future of this great country!

[@Ver5587]

White people settled America. 3rd world immigrants pour in here.

[@TheTrumpmancometh2024]

Well said sir!

[@toeknee3696]

youtube is the closest thing we have to a time machine

[@joiedevivre7376]

In the 70s I was a design student at the fashion Institute of technology 27th St. and 7th Ave., NYC when I lay in my bed at night and looked out the window there was the Empire State building looming large…that was cool.

[@iadorenewyork1]

I am from NY. Whenever I visit, I, too, like having that building in view out the window of the hotel (like Hotel 30), and I visit the building every time. The lobby is beautiful ~ the whole building is!

[@jewman303]

I can see this building out my window. It’s my second favorite building behind the Chrysler building. It’s a truly remarkable building.

[@MrDaiseymay]

They scream to the World--THIS IS AMERICA'.

[@ilovecops6255]

CHRYSLER IS A CAR,. IT IS NOTTE THEM EMPIRES SLATES BILDINBGES. THEY BEE 2 DIOFFERNT THINGES. EMPRIE STABE BUILDIGN IS NOT ON WHEELES!!!!

[@cycleSCUBA]

The backing music is very good and so appropriate.

[@MakeupMobster]

The lack of safety protocols is what I find most amazing abojt this video! No harnesses. No construction hats. Men sitting on the balls of the cranes. Holy crap. Just amazing! Not only was there tons of steel being moved but the guys on the sit had balls of steel! Hats off to them.

[@kikaha56]

As a steelworker for 50 years I am in awe of those men and their achievements.

[@rosewhite---]

The guys who designed that steelwork were absolute GENIUSES!

[@trplpwr1038]

Amazing what you can do without computers

[@MrWolfSnack]

Even the machines alone, like the riveting machine at 4:31. Imagine working out how to design that machine to do that task when one had not existed prior.

[@rosewhite---]

@@MrWolfSnack Similar riveters had been used in shipyards for many years since pneumatic power became available.

[@PC-iv5so]

13 months to construct... if you've stood in front.. or anywhere near this building.. you know that's quite astounding.

[@johnkingsley9525]

Years ago in the Toronto Tower I could not get myself to walk out on the glass floor overhang so it gives me the chills just watching these brave men causally walking on steel beams high in the sky with no safety lines. Each to their own!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I had the same problem in the Toronto Tower (CN Tower?) when I was up there. Still, I forced myself to walk on that glass floor, but it was an uncomfortable feeling. I was glad to get down!

[@rogerdodrill4733]

Some have no fear, some no brains, usually mutually inclusive

[@GeraldMcveigh]

The communication between the crane operators and their spotters !!!! No wireless internet yet...👏👍👌

[@frankxmackey]

My Grandfather help build the Empire State Building. He was a welder.

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

That's something to be proud of.

[@Dangling_Carrot]

He was very good that building still strands today 😊

[@gastonenriquebautistagiral5499]

Te felicito....

[@tobateksingh4933]

Great yr grand father

[@ngairachris6016]

There's a difference between building and helping build

[@dnfrank1]

As a young boy growing up in a small upstate New York town, I was totally in love with the Empire State Building and the City.... My grandparents lived on the upper east side, so we would drive on the NYS Thruway, about 200 miles to the city. What was memorable was that as we got closer, we could see the ESB from a distance, a mythical, magical marvel that dominated this kid's imagination back then and yes, still does. Thank you for the marvelous video!

[@Shipfixer]

As an old ironworker I will say this whole project is truly a marvel! Thank God someone saw fit to record it so well. And thanks Rick88888888 for the fine restoration. Just beautiful.

[@ispules35]

Hat off for our ancestor for their hard works, spirit, dedication and dignity. Without them we nothing.

[@charlesdimino6524]

Every drilled hole matched INCREDIBLE

[@dennisyoung4631]

Usually, when things are put together with rivets, the initial holes are slightly undersized, then are drilled or reamed to size during fit up , e.g. with what’s called a bridge reamer (for larger hot-rivets, like those in the vid.) The hole is normally a trifle larger than the shank of the rivet, e.g. for a 1/8 inch aircraft rivet, the nominal drill size is a #30, or decimal 0.128. The rivet, when “bucked” will swell slightly to fill the hole. This is more the case with hot-rivets than the ones used in aircraft.

[@andyrob3259]

@ 0:08. Old stone building bottom. Right hand side window top floor. Don’t know why - but I find it fascinating that someone has been caught for posterity pulling down the sun blind because it was sunny outside before going back to his desk. A unknown person whose name we’ll never know now part of history.

[@conniepr]

Amazing how we can go back back to that time and see a video of it being built. Thank you

[@Poisson4147]

Film (rather than video) dates back to the late 1880s. Those inventors and photographers left us a fantastic trove of treasures. We owe them a big Thank You!

[@williamgallucci9913]

Respect given

[@niall8632]

Am I the only one that finds it insane they had this machinery and capabilities back then?

[@Poisson4147]

It's not insane if you're at all familiar with the history of construction. 1930 may be almost a century ago but it wasn't the stone age either. A lot of people alive today are only a lifetime or two removed. In fact some types of heavy machinery date WAY back - even the ancient Greeks had simple cranes that could lift up to maybe 150 kg. Of course early machinery used muscle power (human or horses) but by the 19th C. they had steam motors. There are amazing pictures of things like the Transcontinental RR, the Suez and Panama Canals, and the Brooklyn Bridge being built. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqrGnH9sfdp_iLc kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2qtZpSNbMStjs0 The first skyscrapers were built in the 1880s which puts the ESB almost half a century later. The tech was really solid by that point, but still pretty amazing given how much of it was pretty much just pencil, paper, and mechanical calculators. Why I've read is that the planners worked out *everything* in advance, with well-scheduled logistics that had materials effectively going from delivery to installation almost immediately. IMHO we don't give nearly enough credit to what our immediate ancestors were able to accomplish!

[@williamgallucci9913]

Its astounding really

[@user-em7lp1sb4k]

It's all been shipped to China there are very few real men left in the USA to do this kind of work.

[@user-is6de8pp7k]

@@user-em7lp1sb4kThat’s sad but true. 😞 liberalism has Destroyed our country.

[@rogerdodrill4733]

​@@user-em7lp1sb4kChinamen built rails not hi rise

[@liljo911xxx]

These are men of steel...The building still standing til this day.. Simply amazing..

[@ler3968]

The incredible engineers of the day! No laptops, computers, simulators, AutoCAD', Rino, etc. Just drafting boards, & slide rulers (I think most people under 40 have no clue about slide rulers).

[@paulcrombie9623]

I have a slide rule! I am 57 yes old though 🤫🙂

[@SoaringPaul2000]

I’m 60 years old, we used those in school when I was a kid. I trust the slide ruler more than I do computers. Slide rulers don’t crash and can’t be hacked.

[@giorgio.lamarca]

And no safety equipments

[@mudnducs]

This is precisely why the ESB still stands today. Engineering has become the science of design to minimum standard.

[@ksm1985]

I used slide rules

[@simoneroberts2893]

True craftsmanship, technique and precision! How many wonderful beautiful things we were able to build and create in the past due to sheer passion, determination, care of the quality of work and integrity of craftsmanship and real thought provoking brains at work. People who werent afraid to push the limits and not afraid to be creative with it either! This video shows so much attention to detail and accuracy. Even the equipment seemed customed to what they needed to do. It was also fascinating to see how intricate the beams were and how put together like a puzzle, each part supporting the weight of the next piece. Those structural calculations were tight! (Smart mouth 2023 comment to way they teach math now says, if old math and great minds could calculate wonderful long standing structures like this, why would you think kids now need to learn some new condensed way!?? Wheres the ligic in that?)