Good Morning, 
I am interested in acquiring a photograph of the Empire State Building
during it's construction.  Mostly I am interested in numerous (or 1
great shot of) pictures of its steel skeleton.  I have searched for
quite some time, and have not been successful.  I am not interested in
photos which show just a portion (i.e. a close up of the top of the
building).  I am open to get pictures from the Internet, peer-to-peer,
or if I have to purchase it from a third-party.  If you can get me a
great photo or 2 (free) without me going through purchasing through a
third party, I am happy to tip additional.

Hello Dracumen,

The Columbia University Library provides a detailed sequence of
photographs, taken from 1929-1931, of the deconstruction of the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and the subsequent construction of the Empire
State Building on the same site. This forms part of the Empire State
Building Archive.
http://www.columbia.edu/imaging/html/browsers/empire/empire-browser.html 


Construction on the Empire State Building was begun in March 1930 and
was completed in May, 1931.

There are four parts in this collection.

[Part 1] 
Empire State Building, Construction Photos,
There are 65 pictures (different views) taken daily on March 31, 1930
to May 29, 1930
See photo 25-90
Click on ?View DIAP image? to enlarge each image.
http://www.columbia.edu/imaging/html/browsers/empire/NYDA93-F133.html

I believe the photograph you described is in this set.

[Part 2] 
Empire State Building, Construction Photos, 
Here you will find 90 photographs (different views) of the
construction taken on June 2 to September 11, 1930.
http://www.columbia.edu/imaging/html/browsers/empire/NYDA93-F134.html


[Part 3] 
Empire State Building, Construction Photos, 
Here you will find 90 photographs (different views)of the construction
taken on September 11 to December 29, 1930.
http://www.columbia.edu/imaging/html/browsers/empire/NYDA93-F135.html


[Part 4] 
Empire State Building, Construction Photos, 
January 5, 1931- April 6, 1931.
http://www.columbia.edu/imaging/html/browsers/empire/NYDA93-F136.html


Additional photographs:

Building the Empire State
http://www.skyscraper.org/EXHIBITIONS/BUILDING_THE_EMPIRE_STATE/CONTENT/bes_06.htm
 
The New York Public Library provides a photo timeline of the
construction of the Empire State Building, 1930-1931 here:
http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/spe/art/photo/hinex/empire/empire.html

View of the building rising to about sixteen stories
http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/spe/art/photo/hinex/empire/stories.html


Search terms:
?Empire State Building? construction archive photographs

I hope this is helpful!

Best regards,
Bobbie7

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Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 18 Aug 2005 09:38 PDT

Corbis also carries a nice photograph of the Skeleton of the  Empire
State Building.

U554803INP  (Rights Managed)  
Original caption: 11/1930-New York, NY- Workmen completing the tall
mooring mast at the top of Empire State Building.
Date Photographed:  November 1930  
Location Information:  New York, New York, USA  

http://pro.corbis.com/popup/Enlargement.aspx?mediauids={9e725976-ce8c-47ef-9659-ac474f2e761f}|{ffffffff-ffff-ffff-ffff-ffffffffffff}&qsPageNo=1&fdid=&Area=Search&TotalCount=24&CurrentPos=14&WinID={9e725976-ce8c-47ef-9659-ac474f2e761f}

If you can't see the photograph, just enter the photograph number U554803INP
in the search box here:
http://pro.corbis.com/

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 31 Dec 2006 14:57 PST

Here's another image:

http://www.techno-science.net/illustration/Architecture/Gratte-ciel/Img/Empire_State_Building_9.jpg

Taken from TechnoScience.net
http://www.techno-science.net/?onglet=articles&article=3&page=3

Bobby7...simply outstanding!!!  I have been reading Google answers
since the beginning, and am always delighted as to how fast, and
extremely thorough the researchers perform.  I cant wait to be in need
of something else, so I can pose another question!!!  Thank you, and
have a wonderful day!!!

Dracumen,
Thank you very much for your kind words, rating and tip.  I
am glad I was able to help.
--Bobbie7