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“ the Electric Ship ” Ocean Liner Ss Virginia General Electric Educational Film Xd4981 (1931)

1931 · Short film · 17 min

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Synopsis

Dating to 1931, "The Electric Ship" is part of a series of "Marvels of Science" films made by General Electric. It was produced by John Klenke and photographed by Palmer Miller. It was made with the co-operation of the Panama Pacific Line. SS Virginia was launched on October 18, 1928 and delivered to American Line early in December, and made her maiden voyage on December 6, 1928. At the time it and sister ships were the largest ships that had turbo-electric propulsion, allowing them to sail without noise or vibration. The steamship had oil-fired furnaces heating its boilers to power two steam turbo generators that ran at a constant 2,800 RPM. These supplied current to their 18-foot (5m)-high General Electric propulsion motors, which had a combined rating of 2,833 NHP or 17,000 SHP. Virginia was sold and re-christened SS Brazil in 1938, and after 1941 became a United States Army Transport ship. She re-entered passenger service post war before being scrapped in 1964.The electric ship SS Virginia, largest ship ever built in America at the time, slides down the ways (1:13) at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock shipyard. People ready to board (2:15). Luggage moves by conveyer belt (2:37). People walk on and off boat (2:44). Passengers wave (2:55). “All ashore's going ashore” (2:58). Large group disembarks (3:02). Closeup: steam (3:20). Sailor by telegraph (“full / half / slow” etc.), operates controls, indicators, meters, steam (3:24). People wave as ship departs (3:36).…

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Details

Running time
17 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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