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Fuel And The Tractor

1944 , United Kingdom (Other)

Cat no. 1384

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A Government-sponsored film urging farmers to economise on tractor fuel for the war effort.

A delivery of tractor fuel to the farm. The farmer leans on the gate and explains the need for fuel to plough the million extra acres needed for food production. He explains that he orders in advance and that the fuel used is specially blended and imported. Some tractors and combines are driven by land girls. Even small leaks from a tractor can add up to a large amount of wastage. Savings of half a pint of fuel per tractor could put 5000 extra tractors in the field. A farm worker, George, is shown preparing his tractor for work. He measures the level of fuel in the tank. He checks the drum for holes and also ensures that it is clean and dry before drawing off fuel from the tank for re-fuelling. He pays attention to the drawing off tap and the drip tray. He uses a funnel for filling that is also clean and dry. However, he has to reach too high to fill the tank and that this causes spillage. Therefore he fetches a box in order to fill the tank. He checks the tyre pressure, water and oil. The farmer instructs George to leave the tractor in the field overnight as the work will not be finished in one day. George prepares a trailer taking all the things he will need for the job. The farmer also tells him to work using as little fuel as possible. This means keeping the engine hot. George drives off along the land thinking of possible savings as he goes. Along the lane he switches the engine to the vaporiser. At the field he sets the plough to plough three furrows instead of two. The commentary emphasises the importance of the correct setting for fuel economy. The film shows another worker driving a crawler tractor. The point to this is to always pull the maximum load. The commentary explains about combining operations and shows the example of ploughing and potato planting. Another tractor is being driven in first gear on light soil. The commentary recalls statistics that in second gear the work would be done in 30% less time using 10% less fuel. Before leaving for the night, George, greases and oils the tractor ready for the next day. At the end of the film is displayed the message: "Tractor Fuel. We won't waste it, sailor".

Keywords

Farming; Food production; Fuel; Tractors; War effort

  • Producer : Minden, Max

  • Director : Clifford Hornby

  • Camera : Gladys Hornby

  • Script : Max Minden

  • Editor : Veronica Newman

  • Sponsor : Ministry of Agriculture

  • Sponsor : Ford Motor Company

Manifestations

Fuel And The Tractor

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