Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

REEL and SLIDE 43 Screening a Technical Industrial !UR motion pictures were taken for the purpose of using them as educational propaganda. At the beginning we had no idea of using them as an advertising medium, and this point of view has been maintained consistently throughout several years' use of a number of sets of films. If we recall correctly, we were among the first — if not the first — large industrial concern to use motion picture films of a technical product and we have since had occasion to come into contact with a number of films used by other large industrial concerns. After seeing their films and the manner of handling, we are still of the opinion that our general idea of handling our films has been of a more beneficial character than subscribing to the more Four Reels of Educational Pictures Produced for Special Audiences by National Tube Works Show Manufacturing Processes of National Pipe By W. L. Schaefer (Advertising Department, National Tube Works, Pittsburgh, Pa.) take many hours, days and even weeks to make the detailed review it would be necessary to give them, the same grasp of the entire matter as we can present in the short space of an hour — through the use of four reels of motion pictures. We have felt that the dissemination of The most interesting phases of metal tube manufacturing are brought out in motion pictures generally accepted plan of using them as pure publicity or advertising. National in Background We are inclined to think that had we taken them for any other purpose the films would have been different in character — at least we know that a part of the series would have been different — because, as a matter of fact, from the first scene until the last the name "National" is kept in the background — in fact — it seldom appears — only in connection with some titles at the beginning of the reels. We have made no effort whatever to capitalize upon the interest or enthusiasm of an audience — to have them eager to sign an order immediately after the films were shown — and the only inference in this connection is a few feet of film at the end which winds up with a little moral — interpreted— "Specify National — the Durable Pipe." Outside of that we make no specific request for recognition of the particular product. The matter is technical practically throughout the run of scenes. Our idea was, there were hundreds and thousands of people interested in the use of "National" tubular products and tubular products in general, who would possibly not have the opportunity to view our mills to see the processes and, in general, how pipe is produced. Even if they did it would this general information, throughout the trade in any way identified with the use of tubular products, has been of an educational value, and we believe that the majority of people who have seen those films are more appreciative of the ramifications of the production of a mere hollow tube, as it were, and, further, that they have a real conception of the skill and care involved in production. Of course, we cannot escape some publicity in the use of these films. Naturally, we do not purposely avoid it, but any such publicity or direct results of an advertising nature must be and always have been considered as a by-product. Each Problem Different We have never tried to estimate the total cost of showing these films and balance this against possible returns to see where we stand. We have not the slightest idea in the matter of dollars and cents what this would mean one way or the other, and, to be perfectly frank, we are not interested in that phase of the subject. On the other hand, we want to go on record as saying that we are sold to the use of motion picture films for educational purposes and believe that they are one of the most valuable mediums which this department use in connection with its gen-. eral propaganda. Now, in order to estimate the real value Make Your Dollars Fight of the films — to us in a comparative sense we believe that dollar for dollar we have gotten as much if not more out of the use of these films than through any other similar expenditure. Please understand that our remarks are based entirely upon our experience with our own films and, owing to our limited knowledge of other films as used by other manufacturers, we would not want our remarks to be construed as our viewpoint towards all films used by all manufacturers. We think every concern has its own problems and own viewpoint towards the use of films, and our remarks apply simply to our own specific case. A description of our films, which illustrate the manufacture of "National" modern welded pipe, might make clearer how we have made use of the educational idea Reel I Part 1. Mine to Blast Furnace. 1. Prilling to sample ore body. 2. "Quartering" samples of ore preparatory to analysis. 3. Removing barren stiata of earth which cover iron ore. 4. "Open-cut" method of mining ore with steam shovels. 5. Ore being transferred from mine to dock on Lake Superior. 6. Ore bunkers at lake port. Method of loading boats. 7. Type of ore vessels used. Capacity 8,000 to 13,000 tons each. 8. Unloading ore boats at lower lake ports. 9. Details of unloading bucket, showing mechanical-electric control. 10. Panoramic view of blast furnace with ore reserves. Traveling ore bridge — bucket — and stock pile of iron ore. 11. Ore transferred from stock pile to furnace "Skip." 12. Charging blast furnace. To make one ton crude iron requires appro.ximately: 8 tons air, 2 tons iron ore, 1 ton coke, i< ton limestone. 13. Tapping crude iroji from' blast furnace. 14. Train of ladle cars carrying molten crude iron to 500-ton mixer. Part. 2. From Crude Iron to Highly Refined Pipe Steel (Crude iron contains about 94 per cent iron; "National" Pipe Steel about 99^ per cent iron) 15. Open-hearth process of refining crude iron. 16. Charging furnace with limestone, ore, molten crude iron, etc. 17. Tapping refined soft steel from open-hearth furnace. Reel II 18. Bessemer process of refining crude pig iron. 19. Charging Bessemer converter. 20. "Blowing" charge of molten crude iron. 21. Pouring refined steel into ladle. Teeming in to ingot molds. 22. Stripping molds from ingots. Reheating in gots. 23. Blooming mills. Ingots rolled into blooms, slabs or billets. Part 3. Skelp Mills: Pipe and Tube: Department 24. Rolling skelp in reversing mill. 25. Roll-knobbling process (Spellerizing) of working "National" Pipe steel in order to lessen corrosion. 26. From billet to skelp in continuous mill. 27. From slab to skelp in plate mill. 28. Butt-weld process of making "National" Pipe. 29. Details of welding "bell" used in butt-weld process. 30. Charging skelp into butt-weld furnace from rear. 31. Drawing "National" Pipe through welding bell — front of furnace. 32. Finishing operations of butt-weld "National" Pipe. 33. Lap-weld process of making "National" Pipe. 34. First Operation — heating and bending plate to form tube, with edges overlapping. 35. Second Operation — welding lap-weld "Nation al" Pipe.