Detroit Historical Museum Preparatory Shop and Exhibit Construction City Affairs Footage (c. 1952)

1952.110.001 - detroithistori...
16mm film containing silent black and white footage taken of workers and artifacts in the Detroit Historical Museum's preparatory shop at the Fort Wayne Military Museum, as well as exhibits under construction at the Detroit Historical Museum. The footage was aired on the City Affairs Program on WWJ-TV on February 8, 1952.
The reel begins with a pan across several workers in the preparatory shop. Among their projects is one of the Eaton Chemical and Drystuff Company mantels (1948.214.001 or 1948.214.002). Henry D. Brown is filmed inspecting a rocking bench that another man is working on. The camera then returns to the Eaton Chemical mantel, where a worker draws the guide for its painted tile area. Another worker is shown taking a model of Fort Wayne's barracks from a mold and placing it into a model of the fort. Two men are then filmed polishing the copper plate and plaques on the base of the flagpole from Fort Detroit.
Henry Brown next appears and reads the plaque in front of the camera. Then a worker is filmed demonstrating the New Century Musical Puck musical bell machine (1947.051.001). The camera captures a glimpse into the machine's inner workings. Then workers are shown wrapping up and boxing a collection of firefighter helmets.
The museum's designers are the focus of the next couple shots. In the first, a designer uses paper cut-outs to lay out a display. The camera dissolves to the finished display, which includes a box containing several bottles, powder horns, and two pistols, as well as text panels. The designer is then shown demonstrating the items. Then another designer is shown writing a large "Friendly Flags Over Detroit" banner. Next, another designer sketches the tailor's storefront for the Streets of Old Detroit exhibit.
This is followed by shots of Henry Brown and another man inspecting some of the architectural elements used to assemble the Streets of Old Detroit.
A worker is then shown with three lamps on a workbench. Then two workers are filmed fastening closed a display case. Next, the camera captures another display case, this one containing several early household appliances.
In the next scene, a worker installs baseboard moulding in one of the Period Rooms of the Hall of Patriotism. Another worker is shown installing floorboard in another Period Room. After a shot of Henry Brown and another man looking at a dollhouse, the final shots are of display of a mock-up of a kitchen with a woman mannequin standing beside the stove.
The film is on black metal reel, with "Reel F" handwritten on a masking tape label on its side. The reel is housed within a blue metal cannister.