>>>50,000 tons: http://boingboing.net/2012/02/13/machines.html
>>
>>Thx. I also skimmed the catalog link which was fascinating : http://www.archive.org/stream/plantproductofme00mest#page/n5/mode/2up
>
>Wow, no kidding, I missed that catalog - thanks for the heads-up!
>
>A steam-punk wet dream ca. 1919 e.g. page 23: http://www.archive.org/stream/plantproductofme00mest#page/22/mode/2up
>
>The illustrations seem to be an interesting type of artist-enhanced photography, with a few that are purely art. Early example of manual PhotoShop?

I think that appearance is the natural result of the photoengraving process. I've got an old (~1920) Harrods mail order catalog and most of the illustrations there look similar....