Whitechapel Bell Foundry (1966)

Whitechapel, East London. A look at the traditional craft of bell making using London clay moulds. Panning shot follows a man’s hand as a takes a scoop of clay from a bucket and applies it a large bell mould. Various shots of the man in a flat cap skilfully applying the clay. M/S of another man adding clay to an outer bell mould, top shot of the outer bell mould. C/U of several men wheeling a vat of molten metal into the workshop. C/U of the flat cap man stirring the liquid metal. C/U of the vat filled with “a molten mixture of copper and tin“. Working as a team, the men carefully pour the liquid metal over the moulds - buy their serious expressions it must be a very dangerous, precise task! M/S of a man operating a machine that shaves metal from the bell to produce as exact sound. C/U of shavings of metal coming off the bell. After shaving, the men tests the bell by hitting it with a tuning fork. Note : see also CP 581 Cuts FILM ID:355.1 A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR