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This black and white documentary film, Lever-age, History of the Toothed Wheel, explains the principles of levers and gears. It was presented by Shell Oil Company, directed by Geoffrey Bell, and narrated by famous announcer Harlow Wilcox. The Shell logo used from 1948 to 1955 finishes the film. However, a description of the 1939 film by Bell called Transfer of Power and also sponsored by Shell Oil matches this film and so this may be a re-release. The film opens with a girl pumping water, a man rowing in a boat, and an ancient carved stone depicting a crowbar (0:43-1:07). An antique counterpoise lift, commonly called a well sweep, is used to move water (1:08-1:22). The basic physics behind a class 1, 2, and 3 lever is demonstrated in a vintage animation (1:23-2:28). A pulley and bucket water well is shown, and the basic lever used to turn it is animated, which progresses into a toothed wheel (2:29-3:08). An antique wooden toothed wheel gear is shown turning a water wheel, powered by a camel (3:09-3:42). Water flows around a Norwegian mill grinding grains, and the antique wooden watermill components are shown, including the levers, shafts, and gears (3:43-5:16). An educational animation demonstrates the basic physics of gear ratio and speed (5:17-6:07). Windy plains with antique windmills in the distance are showcased up close, including their blades, axles, wooden toothed wheel gears, spur gears, grinders, and grain lifts (6:15-8:58). Different uses of antique mills are quickly shown: moving flood water, an antique oil press for nuts and seeds, and an antique power saw for milling wood (8:59-9:19). An intricate metal antique bolt locks and door hinges close (9:31-9:43). Medieval diagrams for mining are shown (9:44-10:02). The internal system of a very early steam engine is shown, including the walking beam lever (10:05-10:22). The camera pans by the smokestacks of early factories (10:37-10:47). Early weaving machines and what is likely a James Watt steam engine is shown (10:48-11:26). Robertson Buchanan’s An Essay On The Teeth of Wheels 1808 textbook is shown and partially narrated (11:27-11:54). A vintage animation demonstrates the basic physics and principles of cycloidal gear design (11:55-13:17). Craftsmen are shown making antique gears by hand, and then by machine in making and lubricating cast iron gears (13:18-14:45). An animation shows the basic physics and concept of the involute gear (14:46-15:45). A workman is shown replacing an early interchangeable size gear (15:46-16:01). Early machine shops work and weld (16:02-16:40). A 1910s car is shown being driven (16:41-16:49), and the basic mechanism of an antique car rear axle, transmission, and gear stick are demonstrated (16:50-17:45). Manufacturing of case hardened antique car gears is briefly demonstrated (17:46-18:15). Helical gears, a giant herringbone gear, worm gears, and epicyclic gears are shown in use (18:16-21:00). The opening girl finishes pumping water and carries off her bucket (21:06-21:17). The Shell logo used from 1948 to 1955 finishes the film (21:18).
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