Sword Making (1965)

Wilkinson Sword factory, Acton, London. Man checks ceremonial swords in a display. He holds the swords up and looks at them carefully. Various shots of swords being made in the foundry. Good shots of men at work and the processes involved. Metal is heated and thinned out. The blades are sharpened then dipped into whale oil and molten lead. The sword is bounced off a steel block to test it. C/U of patterns being stencilled onto a sword. Narrator explains that there is a new craze for businesses to have a special sword designed for their company. Man carefully hand paints the sword. Final coating is painted on to the sword. C/U of box of handles and scabbards. Man fits these pieces together and then attaches them to a sword. Display case of swords - various swords are seen including the famous "Sword of Stalingrad". Cuts exist - see separate records. FILM ID:315.06 FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT http://www.britishpathe.com/