British Pathe

British Instructional Films Ltd presents a Classroom Film.

A small child turns the pages of a book. He looks closely at the illustrations in the book. We then see a man rubbing a piece of paper on to a block of stone. Another man draws on what appears to be a large piece of stone. This is...

British Instructional Films Ltd presents a Classroom Film.

A small child turns the pages of a book. He looks closely at the illustrations in the book. We then see a man rubbing a piece of paper on to a block of stone. Another man draws on what appears to be a large piece of stone. This is the old method of lithography. Closer shot of the man drawing a steam train. C/Y of artist's face. Another man applies liquid to the stone with a cloth. The other drawings include one of a sheep. He then applies a roller to the stone (rather like a rolling pin). The stone is then put on the press. A man smoothes over the stone with a cloth then places two sheets of paper and a sheet of metal on the stone. He then closes the press and by means of a lever propels the stone through the press. He peels the paper off to reveal the prints. The more modern method of drawing on zinc is illustrated.

The same artist as before draws on to a large piece of zinc. photolithography is then illustrated - the picture is photographed on to a glass plate and transferred to zinc. Two men lift large piece of glass from a stand, replace it with another then draw a blind over it. A photograph is taken. The picture on the glass plate is retouched by another artist. It is again a picture of a steam train. Printing down the picture on to zinc is illustrated. Man lays glass on piece of zinc then secures it. Glass and zinc are put into vice and then turned on to side. A light is used to transfer the image. The zinc sheet is fitted on the printing machine. We see it being threaded on to rollers. Man presses button (control panel has Run, Inch, Speed, Up and Down labels). Machine starts to run. Lots of copies of the pictures are printed. Machine in operation. We then see boy turning pages of his book again. He takes up a pencil as if to draw.

Acknowledgements to Chromoworks Ltd.