This silent film dates from the era when America was one of the world’s top suppliers of industrial equipment and tools. It showcases machines made by the Engelberg Huller Company, a manufacturer of industrial machinery. It was probably part of a presentation reel, intended to advertise the company at trade shows.

Engelberg was originally established in 1888 in Syracuse, New York, by John R. Montague, to manufacture and distribute the Engelberg Huller machine which was invented by Brazilian mechanical engineer and inventor, Evaristo Conrado Engelberg, and Willard Halstead to remove the husks and shells from rice and coffee during the milling process. The huller was quite successful, and additional patents were granted for various improvements over the years. (The hullers are still in use in many parts of the world.) Eventually the company began to make grinders as well as belt and disk sanders, and other equipment, all intended primarily for metalworking. At some point between 1957 and 1971 the company name changed to Engelberg, Inc. By 1971 the name hand changed again, to Sundstrand-Engelberg, Inc. of Liverpool, NY.

The film begins with shots at the Adams Rite company, a manufacturer of door and door hardware products which still exists today (0:08) Close-up of machined door hardware components shown on display cards (0:14) Two women working at an assembly line (0:44) Close-up of one of the woman’s hands as she removes what appear to be pocket door handle components from holders as they emerge from a sanding machine (1:18) Woman puts door lock striker plates in holders and inspects them (2:00) Close-up of hands placing door lock components into molds (2:36) Finished components emerging (3:04) At this point the film switches to footage shot at the Oregon Saw Chain Company factory. Founded by Joseph Buford Cox in 1947, the company continues in operation today out of Portland, Oregon as Oregon Tool and manufactures saw chains and other equipment for the forestry, agriculture, and construction industries. At (3:26) some of the offerings of the Oregon Tool Co. are shown. Water cooled grinding machine in operation (4:30) with saw blade moving through the machine multiple times. Close-up of hands preparing a piece of metal destined to become a saw blade on the conveyor belt before they enter the machine (3:02) The same components exiting the machine now covered in soapy lubricant (3:21) A wall display of chains and metal components, with the sign “Oregon Chain and Accessories” (4:23). Close-up of the saw blade passing through the grinding or tempering machine as sparks fly out (4:36). A worker with an “Oregon Saw Chain” coverall checks a cut saw blade’s thickness (6:03). A worker places a thickness gauge or possibly hardness gauge on the blade and gets a measurement (7:04). Close-up of water running underneath at the base of the machines to cool the metal. Belt sanding or finishing machine (7:12) as well as other machines, including a belt sander (8:05) and an industrial mixer (8:31). Close-ups of machines operating and what appears to be polishing and sharpening of a blade (10:19). Close-up and zoom-in of a machine (11:14) Extreme close-up of the machine’s data plate with the Engelberg logo (11:30) The End

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com