Dating to 1931, “The Electric Ship” is part of a series of “Marvels of Science” films made by General Electric. It was produced by John Klenke and photographed by Palmer Miller. It was made with the co-operation of the Panama Pacific Line. SS Virginia was launched on October 18, 1928 and delivered to American Line early in December, and made her maiden voyage on December 6, 1928. At the time it and sister ships were the largest ships that had turbo-electric propulsion, allowing them to sail without noise or vibration. The steamship had oil-fired furnaces heating its boilers to power two steam turbo generators that ran at a constant 2,800 RPM. These supplied current to their 18-foot (5m)-high General Electric propulsion motors, which had a combined rating of 2,833 NHP or 17,000 SHP. Virginia was sold and re-christened SS Brazil in 1938, and after 1941 became a United States Army Transport ship. She re-entered passenger service post war before being scrapped in 1964.

The electric ship SS Virginia, largest ship ever built in America at the time, slides down the ways (1:13) at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock shipyard. People ready to board (2:15). Luggage moves by conveyer belt (2:37). People walk on and off boat (2:44). Passengers wave (2:55). “All ashore’s going ashore” (2:58). Large group disembarks (3:02). Closeup: steam (3:20). Sailor by telegraph (“full / half / slow” etc.), operates controls, indicators, meters, steam (3:24). People wave as ship departs (3:36). Crowd on deck (bow) (3:55). Tugboat (4:00). Closeup: steam. Captain / sailors operate controls (4:13). Ship viewed from shore (4:30). Ship passes other ships, barges (4:46). Passengers on deck; shuffleboard (4:55). Woman plays mini golf (small crowd) (5:13). People in formal attire get out of elevator, descend stairs (5:38). Formal seated dinner with waitstaff in bow ties (5:50). Couple, private table at formal ship dinner; he smokes (6:08).. Other dinner tables, closeups: female diners. Table, woman cuts birthday cake. Young couple at private table looks over (6:59). Chef preparing food: cutting sandwiches, meats (7:08). Salad (7:28). Chef by electric stove in kitchen (pots) (7:38). Bread oven, baking. Woman (short hairdo) tells man to wait in room, touches up makeup at mirror (8:09). They get up, leave together. Men swing woman by hands / legs into pool, jump in; viewers from upper deck; men and women in swimsuits waiting in line (closeups); deck pool from above (8:42). “Back of all the fun and pleasure” (9:10). Sailors on deck look through sextants (9:14). Bow (zoomed out) (9:29). Sailor looks through window of control room (9:32). Boiler room of ship (9:55). Closeup: generator (10:24). Various dials / meters. “Electric light, heat, and auxiliary power are furnished by four of these small turbine-generators” (10:59). Sailor enters, quickly adjusts part, exits (11:08). “Motor-driven blowers provide ventilation” (11:19). Ship wake (11:39). Aerial: ship in motion (11:52). “Our children have great fun…” (12:04). Children toss hacky-sacks on deck (12:08). Young child sits in deck chair (12:12). Children on rocking horses, at table, hanging out (12:13). “We grown ups have a play-room, too” (12:30). Women on mechanical horse / riding machines (12:35). Overweight woman in leotard uses vibrating exercise belt (12:48). “An ocean voyage DOES work wonders.” Vibrating belt in use again. Shot fades to same scene but skinnier woman using belt (weight loss implied). “Los Angeles” (13:12). People view LA harbor from deck. Smokestacks / trains at port (13:15). “Los Angeles” / “Steamship” signs visible (13:38). Ship docked (13:40). Los Angeles city street, big sign: “Chinese” (13:45). Radio towers (13:59). Ships on water at port (13:09). Passengers on upper deck as ship moves near port; waving. (14:17). “We pass electric ships of the Navy — airplane carriers Saratoga and Lexington…” (14:29). Passengers on Virginia’s deck, aircraft carriers in distant background (14:45). Passengers on deck chairs enjoying sun (14:59). “Then one day — the Golden Gate and journey’s end…” (15:10). View from ship (bow) approaching San Francisco harbor (15:24). City from the bay (panning, “Wellman Coffee”) (15:35). Passengers disembark Virginia (ramp), luggage unloaded (16:05). Wake at sea (16:44). “A General Electric Picture” (16:55).

“The voyage is done. Regretfully we leave the ‘Virginia’ — happy to have known her and convinced that she marks a new era in ocean travel — the era of the Electric Ship.” (16:14)

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