Please read Understanding catalogue records for help interpreting this information and Using footage for more information about accessing this film.

Title: DOWSING FOR WATER / WATER TANK INSPECTION ?

Reference number: 6014

Date: 1950*

Sound: silent

Original format: 16mm

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 18.34 mins

Description: This film appears to document a man demonstrating water divining, using a rod and a 'ball on a thread' device. It goes on to show the Strome Ferry in operation. The final part of the film records what seems to be the work of a water purification / chemicals plant and finishes with views of Stornoway Airport.

Shotlist: man, holding a dowsing rod, walks along. Spectators and officials in background (0.35) rod 'flips' downwards, signalling the existence of water, the man taps his foot repeatedly on the ground (0.57) judges (?) and official begin to take notes on notebooks (1.06) c/u man holding rod (possibly to show this is not a trick) (1.24) gvs dowsing in progress, officials follow on behind (2.02) officials watch closely, ask the man performing the dowsing questions, and inspect map (3.39) the man performing dowsing shakes hands with an official, they look pleased. A rod is hammered into the ground in the background (3.53) -blank- (3.54) same man is led along by a 'ball on a string', it appears to move in circles on its own (4.33) man performs dowsing whilst blindfolded. He is very definite about where the rod 'flips' downwards and stops abruptly (5.16) -blank- (5.18) two men sit atop mountain, admiring the view below. They examine map. Two other men join them and the return to car (7.04) c/u sign for 'Strome Ferry' gvs of the ferry crossing Loch Carron with one car and passengers on board, approach to land (8.38) car drives off ferry (8.52) view along quiet harbour and bay on a clear, sunny day (9.47) men walk along pebbly beach to water's edge, a red wooden fishing boat is upturned in foreground (9.57) -blank- (10.02) rural street, a building under construction (10.48) [very dark in places] ints bricks piled up, general construction shots (11.25) c/u as canister of chemicals labelled 'ICI ALFLOC Dry Sodium Aluminate' is opened (11.50) chemical machinery at work (?) (12.23) exts building, we see man turning wheel, dark brown coloured liquid gathers in the outdoos vat (presumably piped from inside building?) - two bottles of the dark liquid are placed on wall (13.40) exts pale yellow coloured building (water purification plant?) (14.03) ints huge vats, a man monitors these (14.26) c/u three large glass containers with three different coloured liquids inside (water in different stages of purification?) - dark brown, yellow and clear (14.59) man departs building (15.10) gvs airfield at Stornoway. Plan lands 'British European Airways G-AJDE'. It then takes off; aerial view from plane such as islands below and clouds (18.25) aerial approach shot, River Clyde and shipyards (18.34)