Lunch Atop A Skyscraper: The Story Behind The 1932 Photo | 100 Photos | TIME

We don't know their names, nor the photographer who immortalized them, but these men lunching 800 feet up show the daredevil spirit behind Manhattan's vertical expansion.

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Lunch Atop A Skyscraper: The Story Behind The 1932 Photo | 100 Photos | TIME

[DOLfirst]

I can't even look at these photos without getting that anxious feeling in my gut.

[fosgatexlt]

I hear that the building steel was made from the same steel as their balls.

[biglo]

up on those beams. poverty was their biggest fear. thats why they did it.

[nigelbarrett]

Im a builder in the UK and have this photo on my wall at home. These men are a different league absolutely superb credit to the construction industry not known but never forgotten 👏

[rodri]

"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And,  weak men create hard times.”

[gabos]

that pic would of gotten a lot of likes on instagram.

[urmaker]

Their balls contain more steel than all skyscrapers in existence combined. Odd that such a flimsy beam in comparison could hold up under such weight. It must be magic or CGI.

[samorayee]

Word can't describe a photographer a employee who work there . Nobody forgot them . They will always in our heart

[majbrittcastrupjrgensen]

What a shame, no one knows their names. What courage they had!

[asher]

When grandparents said things were hard back then, they weren’t lieing

[mattiasala]

I'm an Italian boy and I'm working in many apartments around the center of Milan. Today, visiting an old woman's apartment, I was shocked when this old woman told me that the fourth man from the left was his father. She was so excited and proud of him. And I was amazed at how beautiful the history is.

[savannah]

I can literally feel the sensation of falling backwards just looking at that picture.

[ellev]

There’s no way I could survive 5 mins much less one day up there. My admiration to these great man.

[yamil.]

They’ll never be forgotten. Their legacy is the amazing structure they built.

[candiigurl]

God, my legs turn to jello just looking at this pic. I like heights and thrills, but I doubt I could ever do this.

[ceewats]

Not that they needed it but those guys get my Respect.

[uvupweweosas]

Them: *smoking on top of a skyscraper*
Me: *comfortably laying in my bed and having small heart attacks only watching this*

[popoymotmot]

What makes these pictures even scarier is the fact that they aren’t wearing any harnesses. Unbelievable courage these men have.

[ox.mmariax]

I can't even go downstairs in the night without the lights on.

[manuelestacio]

1932: Men climb skyscrapers and risk their lives to put food on their table for their family.
2019: Men climb skyscrapers so they can be famous on social media.