Video Parts (3)
This clip is Part 1 of a 3-part film.
MAKING A V-TYPE ENGINE Part 1
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Making a V-Type Engine, Part One. “This picture is from the film library of the United States Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.” “It is one of many made under the Bureau’s supervision to illustrate activities in the mineral and allied industries.” “Presentation of this film was made possible through the cooperation of the Ford Motor Company.” “Iron ore is brought from the mines by boat --” Tugs towing ‘Benson Ford’ into River Rouge docks - ore being removed from hold of ship by large crane. “-- and is stored in bins until used in the blast furnaces.” Aerial view of River Rouge - views of piles of ore. “These blast furnaces can produce more than fifteen hundred tons of iron a day.” Different views of furnaces. “The furnaces are charged with iron ore, limestone, and coke --” Buckets moving up ramp on side of furnace. “-- which emerge later as molten iron --” Views of molten iron pouring from furnaces. “-- and slag.” Slag pouring from furnace. “Some of the molten iron --” View of furnaces. “-- is sent to open hearth furnaces where it is made into steel --” Molten iron being poured into huge ladles. “-- which is poured into ingot molds.” Molten iron pouring into molds. “The ingots are rolled into billets and then into bars for forgings, such as connecting rods.” Rods moving through rolling mill, being cut by machine. “Some of the blast furnace iron --” Molten iron pouring into ladles. “-- instead of being cast into pigs and re-melted, is sent directly to the foundry, thus saving heat.” Ladle cars on track. “At the foundry --” Views of foundry. “-- the molten iron is held temporarily in storage mixers --” Molten iron being poured into mixers. “-- until it is delivered to electric furnaces --” View of furnaces. “-- where alloy metals are added to make steel mixtures desired for casting the crankshafts.” Workers at furnace. “Every batch of metal is tested for conformance to specifications.” Worker taking sample of metal, pouring it into small mold - workers, in laboratory. “The molds used in casting cylinder blocks are assemblies of forty-three cores.” Cylinder block molds on moveable racks. “Making cores.” Workers on lines filling molds with sand for cores. “The cores when assembled make a single mold.” Views of mold in several stages of completion. “The molds travel to the furnace and are filled with molten iron. A new method of handling metal. Bull ladles are eliminated.” Molten iron pouring into molds. “The cylinder blocks are annealed in sand for twenty five minutes to remove casting strains.” Blocks being lifted from molds - blocks on conveyor. “They are then ‘rough machined’ --” Blocks on conveyors - passing through machines. “-- ‘point bored’ --” Worker operating drilling machine. “-- and honed to the almost unbelievable accuracy of three ten-thousandths of an inch.” Blocks moving through honing machine - close-ups - workers in plant large stack of blocks. “Such accuracy is made possible by keeping the room temperature at 70°F. all year round.” “Even the temperature of the cutting oil is controlled.” Views of vats and man turning valves. “The accuracy of the cylinder bores, as well as other parts of the engine is determined by shop gauges --” Worker measuring block. “-- which are checked against Johansson gauges, the world’s standard for measurement of length -- and accurate to three millionths of an inch.” Worker checking gauge against Johansson gauges. [1936]
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