https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/489244c7-dda8-4a7d-a6ac-770a873c2bc5 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Join us on Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com Presented by the AFL-CIO, this film is part of the “Americans at Work” film series. This episode focuses on the role of plumbers and pipefitters in the "Atomic Age" emphasizing the infrastructure needed for nuclear energy production. Plumbers get extensive new training, including at Purdue University, via the Atomic Energy Commission in collaboration with the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry. Workers are shown how to assemble, test, and operate complex systems within nuclear reactors. The "Americans at Work" series dates to 1959-1960 and constitutes 104 films. The AFL-CIO Public Relations Department coordinated the production and distribution of the series. 00:00 Film opens with the title screen superimposed over welding shots (:35). The opening segment compares pipes of industry to the circulatory system of the human body (:46). It briefly addresses historical use of this simple tool including in Egypt and in the baths of Rome (:57). The view runs over an atomic energy plant (1:20) as narration begins to address the US’s atomic future. A section explains the desire to use atomic energy for peace following the close of the war (1:22). Plumbers and pipers are pictured as they work with new technologies and methods (1:46). Welding shots follow (1:54) as costs of various materials are discussed. Close shots show the US Atomic Energy Commission Building headquartered in Washington DC (2:14). The original AFL headquarters building (2:19) appears situated in the northwest corner of Mt. Vernon Square. The headquarters of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the US and Canada headquarters follows (2:24). A vintage 1960’s Reel to Reel Stereo phonic tape recorder (2:32) is used for training union members at the local levels. Experts provide practical instruction (2:50). The teacher sticks protective goggles on prior to welding (2:57). Scenes follow from within the atomic energy plant (3:27). Instructors return from training in Washington (4:14) to train local workers. Plumbers learn heliarc welding (4:24). The first American nuclear reactor vessel for commercial electric power manufactured by Combustion Engineering Inc. moves down a rail line (4:42). A section looks at power reactors (4:54). A suited atomic energy worker adjusts a modern lathe (5:27). Equipment for the atomic age move down the rail line (6:12). Students work with scale models (6:27) and new terminology (6:40). The main building of Purdue University (6:53) is pictured. A section looks at the fifth year of the Annual International Apprentice Contest established in 1953 (7:07) comprised of an instructor training course and apprentice contest. Footage shows the apprentices in competition (7:15) welding and working with molten materials (7:24). Performance tests are conducted (7:31). University professors act as judges (7:50). The awards ceremony (7:58) follows. Winners in their 1958 jackets take prizes from the general president, Peter T. Schuman (8:09). Apprentices and journeymen work alongside one another (8:32). Aerial shots pass over the Shippingport Atomic Power Station (9:03). This was the world’s first full-scale atomic electric power plant designed exclusively for peacetime use opened in 1957. It was decommissioned by 1989. Workers within the plant steam clean component parts (9:37) before assembly. The core of the atomic reactor is shown in the installation process (9:49). Valves within the control room are adjusted in order to operate the power station (10:18). Monitors watch progress (10:31) on a paper chart recorder. Wide shots show the Shippingport nuclear power station (10:42) and the Dresden Generating Station (10:57). The final section shows construction for new plants (11:05) and stresses the need for continued training. The film concludes addressing ties to the union (12:40) and the AFL-CIO seal (13:13). Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxMMjwsJVyA Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:21:04 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/489244c7-dda8-4a7d-a6ac-770a873c2bc5 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.