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Bill Baxter's Dilemma

1928 , Norwich (Norfolk)

Cat no. 112

A dramatised advertising film for Colman's Waverley Oats.

Bill Baxter and his family are around the table eating breakfast - very thick porridge. The children try to feed theirs to the cat but the cat runs away in alarm. Bill Baxter almost chokes on his and leaves for work, porridge uneaten. At work - he is a window cleaner - he sees a child in an upstairs nursery eating wonderful porridge. The little girl goes to the window and gives Bill Baxter some of her porridge. It tastes so good that Bill hallucinates about seeing fields of oats. The little girl offers him more porridge and then whispers the name of the brand into his ear. Almost immediately, Bill has forgotten the name. Looking around the room he sees some Walter Scott novels on the bookshelf. This reminds him. He is so delighted that he falls off the ladder - and promptly forgets again. He collects his ladder and bucket and wanders into the City Centre. Here he sees an advertisement for the 'Flying Scotsman' non-stop London and Edinburgh. This reminds him again. However, he is hit by a passing truck and forgets. He takes his ladder and bucket and dodges through traffic to a shop, the window of which displays Waverley Oats. He enters, still carrying his ladder and bucket, and buys a packet. Back at the Baxter home, Mrs. Baxter is making porridge with Waverley Oats, carefully measuring the oats. The clock moves to eight o'clock and the scene moves to the family breakfast. This appears a happier occasion. Bill Baxter tries to remind his wife to buy Waverley Oats but still can't remember its name. He goes to the cupboard and brings out the box. There is a close up shot of the box and then the film ends by informing people that Waverley Oats are British made and to buy them is to help 'our' farmers.

Intertitles

Bill Baxter's breakfast consisted of porridge. Of some consistency. I'll be off to work. That smells like real porridge. Who are you, funny man? I'm the window cleaner- - can I taste your porridge? It's called - Would you like some more? Lovely! - I can almost see the oats growing. Now what was the name of them there oats? It's gone clean out of my head! That's it! Blimey! - if I ain't forgot that name again. Waverley Station! Now, where did I see that name? Now missus, don't you never forget to always ask for ...Waverley Oats. WAVERLEY OATS is ALL BRITISH. Grown and prepared in this country. Make your porridge with WAVERLEY OATS and help our own farmers.

Background Information

In 1919 Colmans began to manufacture Waverley Oats, later re-named Three Bears' Oats.

Manifestations

Bill Baxter's Dilemma

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    INV337439
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:07:13
    Modification Date
    17/10/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    732287
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    INV378994
    Canonical Title
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    Carrier Type
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    Dimension
    Duration
    0:07:13
    Modification Date
    17/10/2011
    Parts
    Reference
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    INV355432
    Canonical Title
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    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
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    Modification Date
    17/10/2011
    Parts
    Reference
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  • Activities
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    Canonical Title
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    Carrier Type
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    Dimension
    Duration
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    Modification Date
    27/09/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    730538
  • Activities
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    Canonical Title
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    Carrier Type
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    Dimension
    Duration
    0:05:12
    Modification Date
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    Parts
    Reference
    727781
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV222513
    Canonical Identifier
    1992/48
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Details
    Carrier Type
    16mm film
    Colour System
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    Colour Type
    bw
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:36:06
    Has Image
    Y
    Has Sound
    Y
    Identifier
    Image Polarity
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    Modification Date
    18/11/2010
    Parts
    Reference
    697485
    Sound
    sound
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV289206
    Canonical Identifier
    1992/48
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Details
    Carrier Type
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    Colour Type
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    Dimension
    Duration
    0:36:06
    Has Image
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    Has Sound
    Y
    Identifier
    Image Polarity
    pos
    Modification Date
    18/11/2010
    Parts
    Reference
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    Sound
    sound
    Sound System
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  • Activities
    Barcode
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    Canonical Identifier
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    Canonical Title
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    Carrier Details
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    Has Image
    Y
    Has Sound
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    Identifier
    Image Polarity
    neg
    Modification Date
    17/11/2010
    Parts
    Reference
    697321
    Sound
    silent
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV161422
    Canonical Identifier
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    Canonical Title
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    Carrier Type
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    Dimension
    Identifier
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    Parts
    Reference
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  • Activities
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    Canonical Identifier
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    Canonical Title
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    Carrier Type
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    Reference
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    Canonical Title
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    Dimension
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    Parts
    Reference
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    Canonical Identifier
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    Canonical Title
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    Duration
    0:09:00
    Identifier
    Modification Date
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    Parts
    Reference
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  • Activities
    Barcode
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    Canonical Identifier
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    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    35mm film
    Identifier
    Image Polarity
    positive
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    560710
  • Barcode
    INV256590
    Canonical Identifier
    A-1032
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    16mm film
    Colour Type
    bw
    Has Sound
    N
    Identifier
    Image Polarity
    negative
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    560705
    Sound
    silent

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