“This is Lloyds” tells the tale of a 17th century English business called “Lloyds” founded by Edward Lloyd, now known as Lloyd’s of London. Lloyd’s began as a coffee shop and insurance broker company for ships at sea. An anecdote compares a 17th century Lloyds and London to the modern 1961 version. Through this comparison viewers note changes in the industry and economy of London. (Much of the footage is from 1961.) Library shots are included from the 1940s to 1952. A storm at sea in the 17th century. Sails flutter on a large sailing ship (:17). Survivors bail for a lifeboat (1:14). The feature is presented by Associated British Pathe (:38). Pathe was a series of newsreel footage and documentaries gathered from 1910 until it’s disappearance from the cinemas in the 1950’s. Today it exists as a treasure trove of historical footage. The archive is owned by Sherman Grinberg Film Library. This tale is narrated by Anthony Quayle (:51). Quayle was a British actor, theater director and novelist. The stranded sight a rescue boat (1:05). Model shots relay a 17th century city of London (1:19). Two men enter the face of the recreated coffee shop known as Lloyds (1:22). Patrons in period costume arrive (1:26). Coffee poured (1:47), guest’s gossip and the waiter bangs a candle stick on the bar (2:08). News is relayed over the stranded ship (2:16). Guests buzz (2:36). Lloyd’s was known to be the location for insuring ships. An underwriter dips a quill in ink (2:53). Three centuries pass (3:33); a modern patron folds down a newspaper. A waiter pours coffee (3:47). Talk flicks from schooners to airlines (3:57). The English countryside unrolls below (4:14); cows moo by farm homes (4:20). A diesel train carts Pullman carriages towards town (4:32). A nuclear power station (4:49), smoldering industrial area, (4:59), seashore oil refinery (5:23) and hospital (5:36) follow. Other notable sights include the palace of Westminster (6:10); Big Ben rings out and the Tower Bridge appears (6:24). Boats move down the river Thames (6:36). St. Paul’s Cathedral stands amid a wide shot of the city of London (6:43). A patron enters Lloyds in a bowler hat (7:07). The narrator notes while costume has changed, business remains the same. Suits slide up the stairway (7:32). Close shots trace feet over the mosaic floor (7:38). A panel shows the Chairmen of Lloyds since 1771 (7:47). A broker leaves his office to meet with staff (7:52). A uniformed staff member (8:05) moves down the corridor to the Nelson room. Two men gaze at an oil painting of Admiral Lord Horatio of London (8:18). Stunning silver (8:29) and the Trafalgar log (8:40) stand as part of the Nelson collection. A staff member enters the writing room (8:45). Members talk business across the marine floor (13:08). Ships lost are recorded in the Loss book (13:20). Thick script cuts with a quill pen (13:27). The Flying Enterprise tips to its side (13:58). The Hindenburg airship erupts (14:24). The Tacoma Bridge collapses (14:46). The underwriter and broker discuss various hazards over blueprints (16:00). Boats await auction at a boat show (17:17). The lute bell (18:44) jingles for the loss of a vessel. A chandelier dangles in the committee room (20:40). Elected members names are chosen and stuck on a bulletin board (22:07). Well-dressed members of the Honors Company of Master Mariners settle around tables of the captain’s room (22:41). The sunny west coast of San Francisco (23:12) and the Pacific. The Sydney Harbor Bridge reaches over the Parramatta (23:36). A couple peers over the city of Rotterdam (23:44). A secretary hammers on a typewriter (24:08). A Lloyd’s agent inspects damaged cargo (24:52). A British flag at the North Shields Hailing Station (25:24). A mayday (27:17) and the rescue boat spills down the chute (27:26). News of the fated Henrietta Rose (28:10) is tacked onto the bulletin board. An underwriter looks over abbreviations (29:06). Bridge builders observe construction (29:47). An ocean liner at anchor in harbor (30:34). The film was produced by Terry Ashwood (31:36) and directed by Eric Fullilove (31:40).

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