British Pathe

The Canadian Pacific presents - The Birth of a Liner. Produced under the direction of Ernest C. Gill and Walter L. Payne. Thanks are given to the Shipbuilders and to Canadian Pacific.

Reel 1. L/S of a large room where draftsmen are at work preparing plans for the building of a large ocean...

The Canadian Pacific presents - The Birth of a Liner. Produced under the direction of Ernest C. Gill and Walter L. Payne. Thanks are given to the Shipbuilders and to Canadian Pacific.

Reel 1. L/S of a large room where draftsmen are at work preparing plans for the building of a large ocean liner. Many men at work at their drawing boards. The lines are transferred to the plating model of the liner. Panning shot of the model - C/Us showing the markings on the hull. L/S of the vast Mould Loft where wooden models or templates are prepared. Men lay down pieces of wood and intertitle compares the floor, or Scrieve Board to an ultramodern art puzzle. C/U of chalk markings on the ground. The wooden templates are taken to the workshops where they guide founders and riveters. C/Us of men placing rivets in iron bars. "Four-ton steel plates are "mangled" by cyclopean rollers..." A steel plate emerges from between two iron rollers. M/S of iron sheets being pulled from a furnace. Men lift and drop a heavy weight on the iron sheet to bend it. Bars of red hot metal are pulled from the furnace. "Half-inch steel plates are punched like bus tickets. C/U of large hole being punched in sheet of metal.

"Down at the river's edge an empty berth has been made ready. Shot of the berth. Parts of the ship are moved by crane. Men lower them into place. Hydraulic riveters are used to join sections of the hull. M/S of men at work riveting. Various shots of the shipyard berth - the hull takes shape. Various shots of parts of the ship being moved into place. Impressive shots of the structure of timbers and iron. High angle shot of riveters hammering away. Panning shot of long hollow masts being riveted. M/S of two men climbing inside the mast. They poke hot metal out from the inside and their work mates hammer it from the outside. We see the structure of the boat at one year old. Travelling shot showing the structure of the beams. Men clamber around on the girders. Various shots of the structure taking shape.

Continued.