British Pathe

Reel 2. In another Clyde shipyard a sister ship is being launced by HRH the Duchess of York. The ship is named after the Duchess. Large crowds wave to the Duchess as she arrives. The Duke of York is with the Duchess. C/U of the future King and Queen on a balcony with other officials. The ship is launched....

Reel 2. In another Clyde shipyard a sister ship is being launced by HRH the Duchess of York. The ship is named after the Duchess. Large crowds wave to the Duchess as she arrives. The Duke of York is with the Duchess. C/U of the future King and Queen on a balcony with other officials. The ship is launched. We see the ship sliding into the water from various angles. As the ship moves along ropes are dropped into the water. We see the iron chains which fetter the ship move and strain as she moves out into the water. Panning shot of the liner. "Meanwhile, our other ship, moored fast in her berth, is being invaded by an army of workmen hurrying to resume the tasks interrupted by the launch." L/S of men climbing a gangplank to the ship. Intertitle informs that the number of British workmen directly employed in constructing the "Duchess" is an average of six thousand a day for two years. Another shot of men climbing the gangplank. C/U of three men making a scale model of the liner. Dissolve to show man doing very detailed work placing miniature portholes onto the side of the model. The Promenade decks of the ship are planked with Canadian fir. M/S of men laying down the planks. The deck is then finished with oakum. C/U of man filling the gaps between the planks. M/S of the finished deck. Intertitle tells us that a car could easily drive through the funnels.

Panning shot of the ship. M/S of the lifeboats. One of the massive boilers is seen. Turbines and cases are seen in C/U. Extreme C/U of the teeth of the turbine. Cabinet makers are seen at work. Various shots of them making fittings for the liner. "Jazz" artists level and stamp a rubber-tiled floor - they put the tiles in place then shuffle around on top of them to stick them. Interior of a cabin. Panning shot of a luxurious lounge roum with plush armchairs and sofas. "The midday hooter sounds and - off - for home and lunch!" L/S of hundreds of men walking away from the liner and down the gangplank. "The Compleat (sic) "Duchess." - Riding joyfully out on her trial run to greet the White Horses of the Atlantic." After the trial run the ship returns to the Clyde to be manned and staffed ready for her trip to her Mersey base. The Muster Parade - staff, crew and boats "pass muster" before the Board of Trade officials and the Marine Superintendent Stewards..." Various shots of crew members, cooks, bedroom stewards, stewardess and the life boats are all inspected. We see the lifeboats being lowered by davits. See other reels.