A recipient of the Peabody Award, Industry on Parade was a television program that aired in the United States from 1950–1960. It was produced by the National Association of Manufacturers. The show depicts complicated industrial processes that transform raw materials into finished products available for consumption by Americans. This particular installment of the series is a black-and-white film that highlights the work of Long-Bell Lumber Company, Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation, Dayton Ohio Chamber of Commerce convention, and the magical work of Messmore and Damon, Inc. props and set design. The film depicts every step of the production process from the gathering of the materials to all of the machinery and manpower needed at each step of the assembly line.

Opening credits, montage scenes from factories across industries (0:07). “Tree to Trade:” Montage tall trees of different varieties line mountain side – Douglas-Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Cedar, Spruce, West Coast Hemlock (0:33). Lumber jack of Long-Bell Lumber Company sits at top of tree and cuts off tree top (0:50). Two men fell giant tree with crosscut saw, tree falls, aerial view of large commercial truck carrying logs in flatbed, logs stacked on railway cars (0:59). POV footage log processed in the mill: log sawed open by bandsaw, sawyer inspects wood, cuts are sent trough additional saws to be cut for particular uses (gang saw) (1:23). Footage focuses on process of making one Long-Bell Lumber Company product: high grade vertical grain stock prepared for indoor use, dowel and corresponding holes cut into wood using automated machine (3:25). Workers at assembly point, put together various wood pieces from different mills to create doors, door placed into press so glue sets (4:00). Window assembly point assembling wooden frames for four pane windows, glazier adds glass to finished window frames (4:37). Camera pans cul-de-sac of suburban colonial-style family homes (5:16). PSA Message interlude: handicap hiring programs in industrial jobs, man in wheelchair on assembly line, other young men assemble electronics (5:25). “Powered by Light!:” photographer holds up Weston Master II Exposure Meter near woman in bathing suit as she poses on beach walk bannister, photographer looks down into lens of 120mm perhaps Rolleiflex camera (6:05). Interior Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation factory, Newark, New Jersey: close-up women at work stations (6:22). Close-up dainty manicured hands of factory worker assembling moving element of meter (6:44). Meter and dial tested on machine which sends electrical currents, light bulb lights up indicating successful test (7:01). Two women sit at work station assembling photoelectric cell, more tests conducted on this element of light meter (7:11). Aerial view of elderly woman’s hands at end of assembly line putting together all completed parts, president Earl Melon poses with employee (7:49). “Talking Tt Over!” camera pans convention hall in Dayton, Ohio – filled with stalls, booths for educational, national, religious, and labor groups (8:17). Women in traditional mid-Century dress stand at booth of Ohio women’s clubs (8:48). Women serve line of men in suits at refreshments table, camera pans room of men sitting at tables deep in discussion (9:04). PSA Message interlude: warning against danger of inflation to economy, ability to fund American defense – montage scenes of U.S. Navy battleships, city skyscrapers, United States Capitol Building (9:50). “Provider of Props!” view of elevated train track along Park Avenue, Harlem; view of factory warehouse building Messmore and Damon, Inc. (10:29). King Kong prop with automated movements; Messmore & Damon “Prehistoric Gorilla” (10:47). Man sits at table and looks over blue print design plans for NBC-TV International Theatre (11:02). Scenes Messmore and Damon employees at work, painting murals and putting together props (11:10). Company workers at design table assemble miniature stage for General Motors (11:28). Automated puppets: dancing Egyptian girl, man playing piano, leopard playing violin, band of clowns and jesters playing brass instruments (12:37).

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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