Summary: The production of Stirling bombers at the Short Brothers factory in Swindon.
Description: The "speed up" of the title, which introduces an element of 'plot' into the film, concerns an effort to increase production of fuselages to keep up with wings, by means of detailed planning and sub-assembly; dialogue, and narration by managerial and foreman staff, explains that 19 sub-assemblies were eventually used in the fuselage, necessitating 10,000 extra drawings, careful jig making etc. Besides office scenes, film contains extremely good shots of some details of construction eg (Reel 1) - fuselage: riveting, installation of turrets, dashboard, throttle box - wings: wing tips, engine mounting, fuel tanks, undercarriage; complete fuselage wheeled out. (Reel 2) Fuselage transported by road - final assembly: tail, wings fitted, alignment checked - airscrews, 'leading edge' fuel tanks fitted (close-up jettison valves and 'stockings') - installing controls - painting roundel - testing undercarriage, bomb loading, rear turret. Complete plane wheeled out, engines started.
Production Details: Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP) (Production sponsor)
Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Shell (Production company)
Tharp, Grahame (Production individual)
Anstey, Edgar (Production individual)
Beadle, Sidney (Production individual)
Bland, William S (Production individual)
West, Jock (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Short Brothers (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Short Stirling (object name)
industry, British - aircraft: Short Stirling (object name)
GB, England & Swindon, Wilts <Short Brothers factory> (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 2
Footage: 1785 ft; Running time: 20 mins
