Ceremonial Swords (1955)

Acton, London. C, U of mound of burning coals. A red hot sword is being heated in the middle of the coals. Mr Sydney Rouse is seen taking the sword out of the coals he is the foreman of the smithy (blacksmiths). Narrator describes the sword as the ancient symbol of adventure going on to say even in this atomic age, the art of sword making Various shots of swords being forged. They are shaped on an anvil and precision ground. Good C, Us of the sword being shaped on a grinding machine. The craftsman checks his work by eye. nothing better for checking a straight edge. Narrator speaks of the 18th century swordsmith Henry Wilkinson and later generations of his works who produced swords for Royalty and national heroes like Nelson and Wellington. M, S and C, U of the engraver at work the design is etched into the sword by acid then a special acid resistant paint is applied. Engraver rubs off the paper backing of a stencil then paints the sword. Orders for these swords come in from