This 1941 Ford Motor Company documentary “The Ford Rouge Plant: A film story of Men, Methods and Motor Cars” focuses on the famed, massive Ford automobile factory. Due to this plant’s architectural and historical importance, it was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1978. Construction for this building designed in part by Albert Kahn began in 1917. It was completed in 1928. After WWI began, FDR called upon Henry Ford to help with the war effort, leading Ford to build the Rouge Plant, the largest integrated factory in the world. It housed its own steel mill, interior railroad track and electricity plant giving it the ability to turn raw materials into a vehicle within one complex.

Shot of the Rouge Plant (:16). Dimensions such as floor space and acres covered (1096) are listed (1:02). The plant employed 80,000. The 1924 built steel great lakes bulk freighter; the Henry Ford II, moves under an opened bridge (1:33). The eight stacks of the power house are noted (2:16). Two workers perform tasks on the plant floor (2:20). Huge dynamos are highlighted (2:54). An employee moves past the intricate switch board (3:02). The layout of the plant is noted; one is line drawn connecting from the interior to the docks (3:21). Raw iron ore is drawn from ships by electric crane (3:25). Smoke is raised as coal is burned in the furnace (4:23). Coke is produced (4:28). Blast furnaces consume the coke (4:42) and produce iron ore. Molten iron (5:02) is moved through channels (5:07). The camera zooms in on the foundry (5:30). The V8 engine block is cast (5:38). Industry workers scrub the molds (6:50). Assembly line workers smooth the castings (6:55). Parts bend around on automatic conveyor belts (7:06). Close shots of precision tools at work on the V8 (8:08) follow. The electric cam shaft tester (8:42) runs through material with ease. Construction of the Short V8 alloy steel crank shafts (9:00) begin with electric furnaces (9:14). Tests are conducted at plant laboratories (9:33). Liquid steel (9:36) forms molds (9:46). These are heat treated (10:11), polished (10:33) and balanced (10:50). Iron ore is delivered to the open hearth (11:08). A furnace forms a new charge (11:16). Scoops of scrap steel and alloys are melted down (11:25). Test samples are drawn (12:07). Sprays of flames and heat lick up at the machinery (12:54). Molten material streams out (13:06). Hardened molds are separated from ingots (14:00). Caravans of lunch wagons trail in for hungry workers (14:49). Workers run down the line (15:05). Ford designated hundreds of acres near the plant as available for rouge workmen (16:16). An ingot is drug up from the soaking pit (16:42). White hot metal shoots down the line (17:28) guided by operator controls. Steel is pumped out (18:37). Vital parts are cleaned (19:03) and assembled (19:04) in the motor building. V8 pistons are completed and weighed (19:15). Assembly line workers stand in a row (20:37). Stacks of V8 engines (20:43) appear ready for the assembly stage (20:48). Workers move as a well-organized and greasy ballet (21:11). Engines are swung from the line (22:15) and connected to a motor. The V8 is subjected to running tests (23:43). Workers stand on the frame assembly line (24:18). A Ford semi-truck (24:33) pulls out from the factory. The steel body is formed by a press (24:49). Steel sheets (25:07) are shaped into an automobile top. Tops and sides are added (25:49). Edges of the body are smoothed (27:23). Layers of paint are sprayed on (27:44). Glass is polished in the assembly line (28:07) and rolled (28:16) into a flat sheet. Safety glass is formed (28:40). The front grill (29:29) is installed. All motions of the factory are perfectly timed so they arrive in the proper location on time (29:37). Headlights are tacked on (29:46). The body is lowered into the frame (29:55). Tires are set into place (30:01). Fuel is added to the tank (30:15). The front hood is snapped shut (30:18). Wheels are tested (30:32) for proper air pressure. 1940 Ford coupes are loaded onto a truck for transport (30:43).

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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