The Cornish Engine | Shell Historical Film Archive

Cornwall, UK, is one of the oldest tin mining areas in the world. In their day, the Cornish pumping engines were the most powerful and economical steam pumps in the world. This 1948 documentary charts the history of these giant machines, which were designed and constructed by some of the most talented engineers in the UK.
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Shell’s surprising and captivating Historic Film Archive dates from 1934 and covers a rich mix of topics from technology, science and engineering to craftsmanship, motorsport and travelogue.
The Shell Film Unit, responsible for the content, was a highly celebrated part of Britain’s Documentary Movement. Key figures from that movement were involved, including: Jack Beddington, Edgar Anstey, Arthur Elton, John Grierson, Kay Mander, Stuart Legg and Douglas Gordon.
Its films were wide reaching, often screened in cinemas and through the non-theatric film distribution circuit, which brought film to educational establishments and organisations across the UK. While many films covered technological themes related to Shell’s activities, others were entirely unrelated and served purely to educate the general public.
As Shell innovated in technologies that would provide oil and gas products for the world, the Shell Film Unit also innovated in the technological advancement of film, incorporating graphics and different forms of animation as early as the 1930s.
During WW2 the Shell Film Unit was co-opted into war effort, making films for the Ministry of Information’s film division. Its prowess in technological documentary suited the MoI’s need for technical training films.
While the name and the medium has changed many times over the years, the documentary tradition lives on at Shell. Its contemporary film team is part of Shell’s multi-disciplinary in-house agency, Creative Solutions. It continues making award-winning factual content that informs and educates the public, now usually released on social media platforms.
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For more information about Shell’s Historic Film Archive please contact: [e-mail]
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#Shell #ShellFilmUnit #HistoricFilmArchive #Documentary #Engineering #Engine #Engineer #Mining #MiningEngineering #Cornwall #Tin #Steam #SteamEngine

[@shell]

If you enjoyed this video, please check out the full 'Shell Film Unit - Historic Archive' playlist, where you'll find lots more gems! th-cam.com/play/PLEPIVJVCFQH2hoYONdHiQlVrvYQ-k4Xay.html

[@user-no4pg1gp6q]

Modern documentary makers should take note of documentaries like this one - clear and precise descriptions, no dumbing-down, no pointless hyperbole and presented by someone with clear diction

[@andrewrussack8647]

My great-grandfather was a Cornish Engine driver at the Wallaroo Copper Mines in South Australia. What an amazing piece of machinery. And also a work of art!

[@potrzebieneuman4702]

You just have to love these massive machines with their simple but elegant workings.

[@heinpereboom5521]

Beautiful film for people who love technology.
Basic principles will always apply and have ultimately made the world a better place for people through various applications.
I hope to see more of these films.

[@wazza33racer]

these old films are solid gold in their excellent explanations. By WW2, the US Navy had pushed their steam "pipe" boilers to 450 psi.

[@jimthorne304]

Great presentation. There are still 2 Cornish engines, one of which dates back to 1812, at Crofton, near Marlborough , in Wiltshire. They are steamed in the summer and visitors can see them. They were built to maintain the water level in the summit pound of the Kennet and Avon Canal, and when working they still do the job for which they were originally built.

[@Woffy.]

Well worth the visit, a very hands on museum with staff who have time for those who show interest. May I also recommend the Kempton Steam Museum which runs the Worlds largest working Triple expansion steam engines which are of similar size to those used on RMS Titanic.

[@who-gives-a-toss_Bear]

Another great film with some brilliant detail so well and simply explained so everyone can understand the workings.
Would be great if somewhere there’s footage on how these huge engines were manufactured and constructed.

[@colinthomasson3948]

There is so much otherwise obscure but essential to understanding how these engines function information in this film it is invaluable, thank you awfully for preserving it here

[@antonylawrence7266]

We might need this tech again one day

[@Nighthawke70]

The Dutch steam pump is known as the Cruquius Pumping Station. Located at Hamsteade, Holland, is the worlds largest steam powered water pumping station. It is lovingly preserved by the curators of the museum there, it pumps 8 metric tons of water per cycle.
The last of the still in production engines is the Crofton pumping station that moves water to the summit pound of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Wiltshire. They use conventional electric pumps for day to day operations though.

[@Dave.w-ev9qn1962]

Thank you for sharing this fantastic and informative film!
I’ve not seen the first half of the film before and it was as a Cornishman a great thrill to see the engines I know actually in steam and working!
Great watch👌

[@eliotreader8220]

wonderful doc about the stationary steam engines that where built in Cornwall

[@screwdriver5181]

Brilliant piece of engineering history.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

Great Video this well done !!

[@stewarthartley7613]

Go and see the museum of steam at Kew Bridge. Steam up and these mighty engines working on the last weekend of the month

[@DragonsAndDragons777]

This is tremendous!

[@biology101info]

Iron Mountain Mi has a huge Cornish pump displayed in a museum were the pumped operated to dewater an iron mine. The thing is very impressive.

[@asciimation]

The little models are very nicely done..

[@DominickCascianoIII]

extraordinary, very grateful!

[@MeteorMark]

The 🇳🇱 pumping engine in Cruquius just south of Haarlem is still there, preserved and working on exhibition days!
I haven't ben there yet, although it''s not far cycling from me, living in the place where the crankshaft was first used by Cornelis Corneliszoon from Uitgeest in a sawmill in 1594. 😉 🖖

[@MrLukealbanese]

Marvellous!!

[@johnkenyon1532]

Film starts at 1:37

[@glynwelshkarelian3489]

Good video upload. Thank you. The film is a weird mix of information and ill filmed confusion. The explanation of how these steam engines work is really bad, too many said things with no visual backup. At 18:20 the narration quotes Trevithick saying "...cut off the steam at about a third stroke..." With an animation; which is then forgotten. Basically if you know how steam engines work you may love this. If you don't, you won't learn from watching this film.

[@DominickCascianoIII]

one day I'll visit this land. wonder if there are still piles of machines lying about!

[@KR72534]

England has the best museums of industrial archeology in the world as well as many small museums in the countryside.

[@nicolasbecerramondaca6004]

Un café

[@tangoone6312]

.

[@JasonLumbatis]

Hey Shell are you ready to send me a credit card for fuel yet????

[@albionjq]

its on the way

[@MrPither999]

Skip to 2:24 if you value your sanity.