This color educational film is about how lubricants are derived from crude petroleum and how to improve the quality of lubricating oil. This is a 1949 film.

Opening credits: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines – THE STORY OF LUBRICATING OIL, produced with the cooperation of the Standard Oil Company in Indiana (:07-:47). Moving parts are shown and our narrator explains how oil is important. Water and aircraft as well as automobiles need oil. Trucks, buses, and tractors are shown. Gears are shown moving and they need oil as a lubricant. Aerial shots of factories (:48-2:13). An animated character is shown and he is a lubricating oil molecule, he is called a hydrocarbon. Crude oil is taken from the depths of the earth. Separation of molecules is first for the crude oil. An explanation is presented as animation shows the processes (2:14-4:21). Lubricating oil molecules must be separated. This is shown and explained. Animation shows the different types of molecules. Asphalt is one of the types that must be removed. This process is explained as factory footage is shown (4:22-6:33). Lubricating oil stocks. Undesirable companions follow our good molecule. Wax must be removed and this process is explained and animation shows how (6:34-8:43). Sludge/varnish and the one that causes oil to thin or thicken at various temperatures must be dealt with now. How to remove these is explained and shown. Tests are then performed to make sure. Viscosity index is discussed (8:44-11:10). Color impurities must be removed next. This is explained and shown via animation (11:11-12:07). Different types of oils are shown. Each oil does a particular job in industry and transportation. Farm equipment needs good oil as do cars, trucks and busses (12:08-13:48). Scientists work with additives and oil. Gears are shown closeup with oil. Many additives are explained in detail (13:49-15:48). Many tests are performed on oil to make sure it is ready. Scientists work and look at oil performing control tests. Measuring combustion residue is the ultimate test (15:49-17:57). All lubricant oils must prove themselves. Months of research lead to speed up tests. A test is performed on an engine. Endurance tests are performed (17:58-19:25). The 36 hour high temperature test is performed and then parts are studied. Metal sliding on metal as lubricating oil assists. Our animated lubricating oil molecule, the hydrocarbon sings about how he is needed. He is joined by other hydrocarbons (19:26-21:19). End credits (21:20-21:55)

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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