What did they make with it?
Gun barrels for battle ships. I knew a lathe operator, who, during the II world war, (WWII) came in on second shift, Day shift told him the blank was secure, ready to cut. He climbed in the saddle and started it up, As soon as the the tool touched the part it (the part) came out and pinned his thighs to the floor. When I knew him, ca 1970, he could walk well, but you could tell he had problems.