British Pathe

The Nuffield Organization presents
SCIENCE BEHIND THE CAR
Produced by Associated British-Pathe

Reel 1. WS A Morris Minor driving down a street, it turns towards camera and finishes on the curb. CU the wheel. The narrator says "Ah naughty - that's not the way!", but continues to tell...

The Nuffield Organization presents
SCIENCE BEHIND THE CAR
Produced by Associated British-Pathe

Reel 1. WS A Morris Minor driving down a street, it turns towards camera and finishes on the curb. CU the wheel. The narrator says "Ah naughty - that's not the way!", but continues to tell us not to worry because every part of the mechanism has been tested to withstand such strain. CU the camera pans along a row of display tables where every single component of the car is laid out - all 20,000 of them. The narrator tells us about the variety of tests that are undertaken. The camera pans over the car parts and finally rests on a new shiny Morris Minor. The narrator says "Let us show you some of the more interesting tests..."

MS A technician in a laboratory. He looks through a microscope "This is the wear and lubrication test...". Microscope view of oil in an engine part. WS two technicians operating a testing machine. CU a speed dial. The RPM moves rapidly past 3000. WS & CU The technicians examine the propeller shaft rotation. Another technician operates a machine to test wheel 'Shimmy'. CU he adjusts the machine. MS Two men operate a dust test machine. A Morris Minor engine is placed in a large container and dust is blown in using compressed air. CU a man looks through the observation window. CU dials. MS The engine is tested. MS another test for severe jolting - a car is placed on a humpback bridge simulator. Two technicians sit on a car seat suspended on a rig for the fatigue test. The machine shakes them up and down. The accelerometer is put on the seat for testing too. CU the printout film showing the test results. A row visual observation equipment for testing combustion cylinders. CU the machinery with flashing lights. CU an ice box where fuel pumps undergo testing. CU temperature gauge at -30 degrees. CU the heat testing box. CU the temperatures gauge reaches 100 degrees. A car with its doors removed shows us the steering torsion test, as weights are added to the steering mechanism to steering response. A car windscreen is used as the fourth wall of a fish tank to check for leaks. A shiny new car is painted with a solution of soap and water for the draught test. Air pressure inside the car causes bubbles where air is escaping.