OPENING OF A NEW ALUMINIUM WORKS, the
Molten metal is rolled, sawn and scalped at a new aluminium factory by women workers during the Second World War. (clip)
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Title: OPENING OF A NEW ALUMINIUM WORKS, the
Reference number: 1503
Date: 1944, June
Production company: Scottish Films Presentation
Sound: silent
Original format: 35mm
Colour: bw
Fiction: non-fiction
Running time: 8.19 mins
Description:
The opening of the new aluminium works at Bainsford, Falkirk, by Sir Stafford Cripps, June 1944. The film also shows women workers in the factory.
Aluminium factory built by Ministry of Aircraft Production at Falkirk to produce aluminium sheeting for aircraft. Later known as British Aluminium Co. Ltd.
Shotlist: Credits (.07); Falkirk. Shots of factory entrance as visitors arrive (.20); Sir Stafford and Lady Cripps, Mr & Mrs Tom Johnston and other distinguished guests are received by Sir W Murray Morrison and leading officials of the [British Aluminium] Company. Shots of welcome. [Guests include Charles Oakley, Controller of Aircraft Production Arthur Woodburn, MP, and Sir Steven Bilsland] (.46); Aluminium ingots brought into the factory are charged into the melting furnace. Men off-load ingots. Shots loading into furnace (1.31); The molten metal is run off and cast into blocks suitable for the rolling mills. Shots of same (1.46); The blocks are sawn and scalped to obtain a clean surface for rolling. Women workers supervise sawing and scraping machines (2.13); The preheated blocks are swiftly rolled into long strips of aluminium. General views rolling machine. Shots of visitors observing the process (3.37); Electrically controlled ovens are used to anneal the aluminium strips. Strips loaded into ovens, intercut with shots of visitors (4.56); The sheets are stretched and cut to final size. Shots of visitors (5.16); Women workers at cutting machine (5.22); The strips are cut into sheets and sheets of aluminium alloy are heat treated and quenched. General views of women at work on machinery as visitors look on (6.41); Speakers at the official luncheon. Sir Stafford Cripps, Mr Tom Johnston, Sir W Murray Morrison, Chairman British Aluminium Company Limited. Shots of guests at luncheon. General views of speeches (8.12); The End (8.19).