Archive Watch

Millions of Masterpieces (1948)

1948 · Short film · 10 min

Watch now On the Internet Archive

Synopsis

One of the many promotional films for General Motors made by the Jam Handy Organization, "Millions of Masterpieces" (1948) shows the design and assembly process behind the Chevrolet cars of the era. It starts with an historical overview of design in the form of the illumination of books, and then the development of the printing press, as an example of how technology can make things more efficient and produce "millions of masterpieces" just like an auto assembly line and mass production make great cars inexpensive. 0:53 - 1:02: In the past, books were painstakingly, making them accessible only to the rich and learned. 1:13 - 1:18: Today, printing allows books to be duplicated quickly and made available to everyone. 1:22 - 1:31: Printing combines the skill of the author and the craftsmanship of the artist into a single master plate, producing thousands of perfect copies. 1:45 - 1:49: Luxurious transportation was once a privilege of the few, with handmade coaches made from the finest materials. 2:06 - 2:16: The engineering model of a new Chevrolet involves significant investment in experimental work, design, and testing. 2:18 - 2:31: The first model of each new line of cars is handmade by craftsmen, similar to early cars. 2:35 - 2:42: Through quality mass production, new Chevrolets are made each year, making them affordable for millions. 2:47 - 2:55: Quality mass production begins with raw materials like steel plates and iron billets. 3:00 - 3:18: Chevrolet's research and…

Uploader's description on archive.org

Details

Running time
10 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

More like this