The Hughes Laboratory machine shop is devoted to the building of full-scale test models of rock bits, tool and joints and other drilling tools for laboratory and field testing. In connection with the latter, the shop is equipped to manufacture these tools in sufficient quantities to make possible extensive and simultaneous field trials. The machine shop handles a large amount of work for the Research, Product and Metallurgical Engineering departments. This includes building new designs, new mechanisms and new devices for preliminary testing.

The black and white view of Howard Hughes and his crew after completing the Around the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "A scene at Floyd Bennett Field as Howard Hughes and his crew landed after completing a round the world flight. 7-14-38 (Press Association)"