Where NYC manhole covers come from

Yesterday’s New York Times had a piece (and a neat audio slide show) on the the origin of that city’s manhole covers. Foreign worker safety is an issue at the Indian foundry.

Eight thousand miles from Manhattan, barefoot, shirtless, whip-thin men rippled with muscle were forging prosaic pieces of the urban jigsaw puzzle: manhole covers.

Seemingly impervious to the heat from the metal, the workers at one of West Bengal’s many foundries relied on strength and bare hands rather than machinery. Safety precautions were barely in evidence; just a few pairs of eye goggles were seen in use on a recent visit. The foundry, Shakti Industries in Haora, produces manhole covers for Con Edison and New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, as well as for departments in New Orleans and Syracuse.

The scene was as spectacular as it was anachronistic: flames, sweat and liquid iron mixing in the smoke like something from the Middle Ages. That’s what attracted the interest of a photographer who often works for The New York Times — images that practically radiate heat and illustrate where New York’s manhole covers are born.

When officials at Con Edison — which buys a quarter of its manhole covers, roughly 2,750 a year, from India — were shown the pictures by the photographer, they said they were surprised.

Foundries are interesting places — I was on a public art jury earlier this year, and one of the artists up for the job — she makes giant bronze sculptures — described the Toronto-area foundry she works with terms similar to this article, including “Middle Ages.” She said nothing about bare feet though.

Photo via NY Times