Synopsis
(1975) is a color promo film for Champion Spark Plugs that combines animation, archival, and live action footage to explain what a spark plug is and illuminates the hard work that has gone into engineering, designing, and producing high performance spark plugs. Champion was founded in 1905 by Albert Champion in Boston before moving to Toledo, Ohio to be closer to other automotive manufacturers. It remained a family business until the 1980s. Today it is owned by Federal-Mogul Corp. producing spark plugs for a wide range of applications, as well as wiper blades, batteries, oil filters, lighting, and glow plugs.Opening animation sequence of two men (perhaps R.A. and F.D. Stranahan) experimenting with materials to create spark plug (0:09). B&W archival footage from early 20th century of early examples of spark ignition engines: Ford Quadricycle, 1908 Ford Model R Runabout, Ford 999 (1:08). Footage of early attempts at flying: young man jumps from roof of shack, man attempts to fly bicycle equipped with wings, tail, burning rocket (1:22). Progression of spark plug designs over time (2:05). Champion engineers in lab experiment on perhaps Mercedes-Benz S-Class W116 series 1973 engine; use dynamometer to test driving conditions on motor, close-up of dials, monitors, charts (2:23). Close-up pliers adjusting wires of temperature sensor, more information about temperature sensor’s job (3:18). Animation depiction how combustion chamber converts fuel to power (3:45). Footage reverts to…
Uploader's description on archive.org
Details
- Running time
- 21 minutes
- Collection
- Ephemeral Films
Subjects on the Internet Archive
- Stock Footage
- The Spark Plug
- Champion Spark Plugs
- Albert Champion
- Mogul Corp
- Ford Quadricycle
- Ford Model
- Doo Bombardier
- Periscope Film