Video Parts (2)
This clip is Part 1 of a 2-part film.
SOME OF UNCLE SAM"S WORKSHOPS [U.S. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT AND BUREAU OF PRINTING AND ENGRAVING] Part 1
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Almost a million workers are employed by Uncle Sam to carry on the many activities of the government. All of these activities are intended to benefit all the people.” “For example, Uncle Sam delivers mail to all his citizens and visitors each day, at a cost of only two cents a letter.” Uniformed postmen leaving a post office with mail for delivery. “Not so long ago the postman collected his letters on foot, but now --” Mailman collects mail from sidewalk mail boxes using a Ford truck. “When the incoming mail reaches the post office, the first task is to cancel the stamps.” “Uncle Sam uses the most efficient machinery possible. The cancellation machine cancels thousands of letters with speed and accuracy.” Women clerks operate stamp cancellation machinery. “Have you ever tried to carry a big bundle of letters? Beginners usually find it is not easy.” Clerk drops pile of letters. “Then the postal clerks sort it into districts for the postmen.” Women postal clerks sorting mail. “These men are sorters. As you see, some are fast sorters.” “Sometimes girls do this work performing the task as creditably as the men.” “It takes a quick brain and keen eyes to do this work.” Sorters throw letters into battery of mail sacks. “If he misses the mark, that piece of mail goes to the wrong city.” “The postmen next take the mail in charge and sort it in detail for their several routes.” “Uncle Sam is gradually filling the gap between producer and consumer; when he does, the cost of living will come down.” Bulk mail in transit. “The motor truck is used in cities --” “-- and long steel trains rush with mail from coast to coast.” Railroad train with mail and passenger cars. “The fastest mail service is by the ‘air route.’” Pilot receives mail bags, plane takes off. “Even the country farmhouse receives daily service from Uncle Sam.” Mail delivered by horse-drawn sleighs. “Another of Uncle Sam’s workshops is the Bureau of Printing and Engraving in Washington, where bonds and paper money are made.” U.S. Government Printing Office Building. “The war caused a tremendous increase in the cost of running the government.” “To raise the money needed to meet this increase, government loans were floated. The confidence of the people in their government was shown by the fact that all the bonds were sold long before they were issued.” “How are these bonds made.” “The die is hand engraved.” Engraver manually cuts die. “Then transferred to a roll of steel.” Machinery transfers die cuts to steel roll. “Captain Kittle, an employee of the Bureau since 1864, transfers the roll to a soft steel plate.” “A bath in potassium cyanide gives it the necessary hardness.” Worker immerses plate in bath. “In the printing room.” Workers operate printing presses. “A 10,000 pound press smoothes out the wrinkles.” Workers operate press, sort sheets of bonds. “Inspecting and counting.” “Bonds are stored six to the sheet and are cut to single bonds when shipped.” Storage and shipping workers. “How would you like to hold $200,000,000 in your grasp? That’s one-fifth of a billion.” “The End.” [1920]
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