Mechanical Excavators with Teeth Of Steel - 1942 - CharlieDeanArchives / Archival Footage

This film has been made available courtesy the British Council Film Collection.
Trivia
Teeth of Steel is, when compare to other films this collection, unusually explicit about the war effort. This is possibly due to off-screen politics between the British Council and the Ministry of Information; the British Council initially believed that it was not allowed to mention the war within its films due to an embargo from the Ministry, however it transpired in February 1942 that this had been a misunderstanding. Teeth of Steel is one of the first films completed after this realisation, and may be an attempt to compensate for the previously 'idyllic' tone of the Collection.
Best known for his role as Private James Frazer in Dad's Army, John Laurie was an accomplished Shakespearian actor by the time he narrated Teeth of Steel. His acting career continued to blossom after this, but he was again enlisted by the British Council to narrate the Technicolor Steel in 1945.
There is another connection to Steel, in that both films feature Technicolor footage of steelworks.
CharlieDeanArchives - Archive footage of tractors working on the farm from the 20th century, making history come alive!

[@jimsvideos7201]

The image quality is astonishing for a film shot in 1942.

[@zacharywolter]

Celluloid film is roughly equivalent to 4k in digital and was only limited due to the size of the molecules making up the emulsion.

[@aljonflavin6760]

That was real good, I did operate a RB30 face shovel when I was younger thanks.

[@corybiltz2461]

Man look at how natural that field looked in the ditch digging portion...... THATS amazing

[@steves7896]

They couldn't have done it without that music. Impossible! 😅

[@Tumbleweed_Tx]

that was the 1940's version of putting some shitty electronica track underneath an adderal fueled spastic video.

[@BobSmith-mc7uq]

Imagine that. BIG construction equipment working day in & day out, NO COMPUTER needed!

[@themechbuilder6171]

better times..

[@Dogman262]

The operators are doing the computing here, i'd imagine

[@warrenblain2365]

Thanks. Ten minutes of nostalgic pleasure. Very impressive feats.

[@isaacwatanabe9599]

I wish people would save these old construction machines. They almost all ended up scrapped :(

[@CarlHargreavesRustyRelicsUK]

it makes me sad to think what Britain had, and what the country is today.

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

You can thank Thatcher for turning our production based economy into a service based one and the current government for removing access to our services market. Thanks to the activities of one certain party we will soon have a country without any meaningful economy. But hey the cowboy bankers will have made a killing shorting the pound so their donations will have paid off handsomely for them and there is always cash to be made laundering the world's dirty money, just no jobs for the general population.

[@dadillen5902]

Look for the union label.

[@TsunauticusIV]

Niblonians ruined the planet

[@raheelahussainraheelahussa2001]

@@gustavmeyrink_2.0 high

[@jeffwilson1399]

America not far behind!

[@markcrew3696]

Geoffrey unsworth did the color for this small feature film. His last movie that he did was the Superman movie in 1978 he died right afterwards the movie is devoted to him.

[@josephinebennington7247]

Drag line like this were still working in Kent in 1980s, still digging the quarries that later became Bluewater Shopping Mall.

[@Ham_rig97]

The camera footage is amazing for such a old film

[@themechbuilder6171]

there wasn't anything called pixels in those days

[@martiniv8924]

The best old Excavator movie I’ve seen 👌🏻😎

[@ronniefaisstfan687]

these machines are hella cool and i wish they were still mostly around as museums, but lets talk about how many people wouldve gotten hit by osha back then lol

[@smh9902]

Thats why they were able to get 10X more work done with half the men and a quarter of the time.

[@ChevyConQueso]

@@smh9902 Sure, and with a death rate that most would find apalling. Don't get me wrong, OSHA can be a total pain in the ass, but a lot of men lost their lives because of often undisclosed dangerous conditions, stupid mistakes, and bad practices over the years. Every rule exists because someone died or got hurt bad. I've worked with some real dipsticks in the past that would absolutely get you killed or maimed in worse conditions. I'll take modern safety rules and less productivity over that any day. Plus it's actually cheaper for companies to keep people safe and alive, so we have that going for us. I had an uncle who died young due to his father's exposure when only 19, so I don't look at this with the rose tinted glasses. The company knew what was in the facility (radioactive) It killed a lot of those guys early, and affected their offspring. Another fantastic example of the good old days is a big mine in Libby, Montana. Look that one up for a fun read and reminder why safety policy is a good thing. Now, the EPA on the other hand, they straight up kill off entire industries, nevermind jobs or individuals.

[@smh9902]

@@ChevyConQueso OSHA also kills smaller businesses that literally cant afford their insane regulations, which is why only large corporations exist in the modern era. I would rather work dangerous conditions than be unemployed. I work in facility that is not OSHA compliant every day. Its not a big deal, I just play it smart. This is why China is kicking our ass and will win WW3.

[@darrylbrownstone2553]

3:00 We were building mechs in the 40s...

[@jackking5567]

All done for the security of a country and look at it now - reliant on others to exist. The result of terrible management by leaders.

[@larrybarnes3920]

In Australia were on the receiving end of a Chinese lesson that you must maintain self sufficiency. And don't rely on a single market for your produce.

[@muherich]

A fascinating wartime technology and propaganda film. Thank you for the presentation on KZbin. I didn't even know that there were such big backhoes back then. I had never seen an excavator that moves on skids. There is something similar only with very small excavators, which have very long legs that can be moved in all directions and are used on steep slopes, especially in the Alps, where any wheeled vehicle would fall into the depths. The performance of the backhoe excavators has only been surpassed by the bucket wheel excavators since the 1930s, the largest of which can now be found in East and West German lignite opencast mines (weight up to 12,000 tons, daily output up to 240,000 tons of coal and overburden).

[@jimtomassetti8928]

They were working horses. They must have been boiler's working in the heat of summer 😢very powerful machines

[@rosewhite---]

Those were the days. not a single machine like this left in UK!

[@Sennmut]

Too many environuts whining about real progress, on their way to their safe spaces.

[@Leatherface123.]

Oddball the walking dragline that came from America

[@Leatherface123.]

Also there isn’t a single shovel left on earth Except big Brutus in west mineral Kansas

[@663rainmaker]

EVRAZ Russia 🇷🇺 EVRAZ Plc London United Kingdom 🇬🇧 recycle ♻️ pros and Cons EVRAZ Claymont DeLaWaRe USA 🇺🇸

[@663rainmaker]

@@Leatherface123. gOne ! EVRAZ Russia 🇷🇺 EVRAZ Chicago Illinois USA 🇺🇸 EVRAZ Pueblo Colorado USA 🇺🇸 iron ore

[@lembriggs1075]

Wow! Thanks for posting!

[@kenworthNH]

This music. I was half expecting Godzilla to come stomping out of the ground.

[@wphubert]

Incredible video quality. Thanks!

[@Nudnik1]

"Big Muskie" in Ohio a Bucyrus Erie the largest machine ever made on Earth 240 cu yd bucket.... Scrapped in 1990s.

[@RavenBlaze]

Marion Power Shovel! They also helped build the crawler at NASA!

[@Nudnik1]

@@RavenBlaze Yes I saw that mobile rocket transporter awesome. Look up "Historical construction Equipment association" in Ohio. Also "the big squeak" ( One that flipped upside down and rescued".

[@tinytonymaloney7832]

Hey hang on a minute, you can't show this film, the workers are not wearing hi-viz jackets or safety helmets. And God forbid did I see one worker smoking and not standing in the dedicated smoking shelter?? I'm also not happy that the plant shown in use wasn't painted yellow with black stripes at the back and flashing orange beacon plus the green one to show the safety twats that the operator is wearing his seat belt. And there wasn't a safety barrier or notice in site so how can the workers possibly know how to get through the day? . Honestly, this should be XXX rated with appropriate warnings before being shown. The snowflakes could be offended. PS - From reality now..... Great video, real men doing real work 👍👍👍👍👍

[@kenc4240]

You Pretty Much Nailed It Tony With Your Statement !!!!!

[@lwilton]

You forgot the mandatory Prop 65 warnings on all equipment and materials.

[@cecilforbes3034]

And take 5 s,and jha,s

[@cfcduffysafc]

Great video beautiful machines

[@finscreenname]

While out there digging in a giant target you would have to have someone watch for enemy planes coming in and killing you. Wow.

[@markjosephbudgieridgard]

What a fantastic film HD in the forties wow... Really enjoyed it 👍

[@punhoss]

Burned the moisture out of the ore by open pits of coal fire... imagine that!

[@phuturephunk]

Honesstly, with the kind of working environment that would cause, I'd rather not. LOL

[@themagicboy6548]

2:00 oh my gosh it's Percy!!

[@davidmunro6939]

Bagger 2000 bucket shovel and cement burners are the biggest machines.

[@gustman9048]

CAT: Hey it is Grandpa

[@tombeer9]

5:03 the machine room on the back of that digger is the size of a small warehouse

[@samanli-tw3id]

That machine is a moving factory

[@vancepomerening4794]

Anybody else find the buckets of steam shovels anthropomorphic?

[@Iron_Duke1847]

The Stanton Quarry walking dragline or the R&R Type 5360 one?

[@isaacwatanabe9599]

Mary Anne

[@northseabrent]

1:10 That’s Mike Mulligan’s steam shovel Marry Anne..

[@jameshester3831]

I would have to say that piece of equipment is safe for module experts

[@mamahgou]

Amazing 👌

[@gtb81.]

back when men were men and machinery lasted, just look at the size of that shovel, the bucket is the size of my living room!!

[@steeveedee8478]

A five ton dragline bucket.............. The world record bucket was eventually peaked at 325 tons!!!!!!!!!!

[@1998232v6]

I see troublesome trucks!

[@torak1298]

The intro music though!

[@mozdobrowne1390]

Was wondering if anyone else noticed it. Sounds like it would make a nice sample.

[@EddieEducation]

Does anyone remember this clip from Classic Plant Machinery (narrated by John Peel)?

[@mozdobrowne1390]

Anyone else curious about how these machines got to the digging sites? Or does anyone know and care to share?

[@theenchiladakid1866]

I can't be sure but maybe on the back of trucks and put together at the work site

[@SteamCrane]

They were transported in small sections, and assembled at the mine site.

[@mozdobrowne1390]

Ohh ok cool. Thanks for the info. No chance of any footage of that anywhere?

[@SteamCrane]

@@mozdobrowne1390 There are some still photos of assembling various machines, including quite a bit on The Silver Spade. It was built next to the railroad mine branch, for convenience in bringing in components. There are odd photos of a crane picking up entire hopper cars full of steel stamping scrap to pour into the counterweight bin. I believe some of these photos are in books, otherwise in collections of people that may not be around any more.

[@mozdobrowne1390]

@@SteamCrane ok thanks for the info. I'm just always curious about this kinda stuff. Cheers 👍

[@tractorsmachinesro1405]

Great great work 👀🤝💖🚜

[@pauldarlington5589]

Fascinating, but ironic in how sick Humanity has become. The great pride in counter intuitive mass production to fuel mass destruction.

[@eddiethenose3018]

Just imagine where we'd be if all of this effort and strife were put towards something more constructive than war.

[@Dot-bs4yv]

they made this shit WALK?!

[@zaxisontherun]

Yes,with feet

[@mercoid]

I wish I had teeth of steel. Family make clams. I eat the shells. Teeth. All busted up. Timothy

[@andrei5108]

Техника безопасности нервно курит в углу!

[@themechbuilder6171]

there isn't/wasn't any bad guys if you think about it those countries were fighting for their people

[@jamielacourse7578]

Love the brogue......

[@randolphtorres4172]

THANKSGIVING

[@miamicakes1830]

These machines are not of this world.

[@cratecruncher6687]

Beautiful cinematography. Not a fan of the shrill soundtrack, lol.

[@someuser4166]

What's with the 40s and 50s and spamming loud clipping music on everything

[@farmingfishingfamilyontari2814]

It seems like rubble would land on the rail tracks

[@lwilton]

It does, but not much. Train cars are heavy when full, and rail flanges are sharp. They pretty much just cut through anything small.

[@robertboyd3863]

Hard to believe how bad that country has went to hell

[@danieltorrens4954]

War,War,War, we need more War!!!!

[@larrybarnes3920]

We're a mad mob to be sure.

[@lwilton]

I think that is because we don't have enough. The people back then had more than enough war, which is why they kept saying that this was to get the war done with so they could rebuild and have peace.

[@Troublemaker1022-r9c]

Well...... It IS sort of good for business. Recall if you will..... Little Orphan Annie..... Daddy Warbucks. That's where that name came from.

[@jpenneymrcoin6851]

do I detect a bit of a welsh accent?

[@jashton8710]

I often wonder how it is that the wheel excavator wasn't invented first.

[@samanli-tw3id]

First excavators had steel wheels and could only move on rails.

[@vitalitimofejev6086]

А где труд заключённых? 🥴

[@oxcolette]

Good shit i subscribed

[@coldboltz7390]

Wow

[@davidmunro6939]

When profit is the bottom line civilizations die.

[@MakaiIELTS]

Old video

[@neilfurby555]

narrators accent ?

[@johnmorris6434]

Errr Think dads army, Fraser.... Thats him. The undertaker

[@vancepomerening4794]

Sounds Northern to me.

[@Draxindustries1]

The queen's English. Very different to today's 'innit' m8 blud' ect ect..

[@jayarnold8883]

I see how global warming could be a thing...

[@rolflews]

And yet the "scientists" were warning us we were all gonna freeze to death in the coming Ice Age in the 1970's...

[@nfarnell1]

The music is horrible, standard for British docs.

[@Leatherface123.]

I love stripping shovels

[@Клофелин-с4и]

Да уж, эш 1 точная копия

[@danieltorrens4954]

Oh, great none of this would have been necessary if they were no wars!!!!

[@boom-rl7me]

You don't like limestone roads? Concrete buildings, roads? Jobs?

[@danieltorrens4954]

@@boom-rl7me There is proof of a completely different civilization that was here before us, we came along and inherited all of the infrastructure! Good KZbin channel is called Jon Levi he talks about how we found all of it!!

[@boom-rl7me]

@@danieltorrens4954 regardless whether you built it or somebody else built it, any kind of infrastructure requires material. That material has to come from somewhere.

[@danieltorrens4954]

@@boom-rl7me Why do you have to kill people in order to get it???

[@boom-rl7me]

@@danieltorrens4954 I'm not sure how digging up Earth to utilize its resources equals killing people?