This is a promotional film for 'Armstrongs' shock absorbers. 'Armstrongs' was a major manufacturer of automotive shock absorbers, employing 24,000 people worldwide, and was based in Beverley, East Yorkshire. The film is led by a presenter who sets about demonstrating the importance of shock absorbers by testing cars that been fitted with worn and brand new shock absorbers. The film opens with a car grey car driving at high speed across a several roads, and the screeching...

This is a promotional film for 'Armstrongs' shock absorbers. 'Armstrongs' was a major manufacturer of automotive shock absorbers, employing 24,000 people worldwide, and was based in Beverley, East Yorkshire. The film is led by a presenter who sets about demonstrating the importance of shock absorbers by testing cars that been fitted with worn and brand new shock absorbers. The film opens with a car grey car driving at high speed across a several roads, and the screeching of tyres and engine noise have been clearly amplified by sound effects for maximum impact. The car then roars past the camera, lifting off the ground momentarily as it shoots over a dip in the road. Title - The Vital Link. Shots from the vehicles interior show the driver's profile as he shifts gear. Title - Presented by Armstrong Patents Company LTD. England. The driver pulls up on an isolated forecourt where several other cars are parked. The driver exits the vehicle wearing white mechanic's overalls with 'Armstrong' written on the back. The driver is greeted by the presenter - a man wearing a suit and sheepskin coat - and the mechanic looks at some notes he holds. Mechanics wearing identical overalls work on a car, with one of the men working beneath the chassis. A mechanic then hands the presenter a small cine camera, and the presenter comments, "still in one piece after all that". The presenter gives a piece to camera, remarking that this camera he is holding has been filming shock absorbers at the Motor Industry Research Association. The presenter states that shock absorbers are crucial to improving the ride of a vehicle, and that he spoke with Colin Chapman, "of the world famous 'Lotus' organisation," on importance of shock absorber. In a car showroom, presumably at Lotus headquarters, the presenter talks to Colin Chapman, a slick industry type. As the interview takes place, mechanics in white overalls can be seen tinkering on cars in the background. The presenters asks Colin why shock absorbers are such an integral part of the suspension unit, and Colin replies with reference to Lotus's popular sporting model the Lotus 'Elan'; describing the shock absorber as a critical part of the racing cars suspension system. A close up shows the suspension and combined shock absorber from the 'Lotus Elan'. Colin states that shock absorbers are just as important for family cars, and the presenter then thanks Colin for his time -shaking his hand. There are then shots of various different models of shock absorbers, and the voice over states that they all may look different, but each share a common goal: to produce a smother driving experience. A demonstration of how shock absorbers work then takes place; a hand flicks the end of a metal rule, which oscillates quickly. The oscillation is then reduced once the rule is attached to a small metal shaft with a cylindrical wooden head, which is placed in a tube filled with water. The rule is flicked again, but the oscillation is instantly counteracted by the newly attached apparatus, commonly known as a dampener. The action returns to the motor industry association testing area, where the presenters states that the camera behind him, which is mounted on the back of a land rover, will film two vehicles - each with different shock absorbers - to see if there is an obvious difference in ride quality. A shot then shows the two cars stationary, with the voice over stating that the grey car has been fitted with worn shocks and the yellow car with good ones. He then remarks that cameras have been mounted under both cars to see if the shock absorbers are making a difference. The presented then climbs into the Land rover and drives away, filming the cars as they follow behind. The voiceover quips that during the following sequence the cars will encounter all types of different road surfaces that the general motorist is faced with. The cars then drive past the camera, which pans to show a sign next to the road that reads 'Pave - corrugations - waves -bumps - dip - water splash'. Shots show the two cars moving across a surface known as 'Pave,' which simulates the road quality of older surfaces. Close ups of the wheel's and shock absorbers beneath the chassis show the wheels oscillating at different speeds and intensities, and contrast between the two cars is clear, with the worn shock absorber allowing the wheels bounce of the road at a far higher rate. The cars now drive over a surface called the washboard: corrugated bumps in the road. The voice over remarks the longer you drive over the more violent the ride becomes. The car with the worn shock absorbers bounces feverishly, managing to maintain only two wheels on the road at one time. However, the good shock absorbers are able to keep all four wheels firmly planted to the road. The car cruises across waveform surface, which has dips in the rope every few meters. Again there is a distinct difference in performance, as the older car leaves the roads surface more frequently, while the new car hugs the road. The next test is called pitching and shows the cars riding over a small bump. Braking distances are then tested; the car with the worn shock absorbers goes first, and the resulting tire marks show the that wheels have left the road several times, adding at least 25-30 feet extra to the braking distance. The same car is now fitted with good shocks, and it drives down the runway before braking sharply, with the resulting tyre marks showing that the wheels have stayed on the ground for the entirety of the stop. The voice over states that, "this might perhaps save a child's life". The cars handling are then tested, with both cars taking a corner at speed. The car with good shocks keeps it grip, while the car with worn shocks has its back end slide, showing significant over steer. Shots from an elevated position then show the cars driving across a bendy pave road, with the car with the warn shocks sliding all over the place. The car with the work shocks is the filmed taking a long protracted corner and the driver has to constantly battle to keep the car on the road. The car with good absorbers then drives the same bend with relative ease. The filmmaker then captures a shot of the grey car sliding off the tarmac onto a grassy verge, and the voice over leaves the viewer with the harrowing though: "What if that verge was the centre reservation of a dual carriageway?" The cars return to the testing centre and the presenter exits the land rover giving another piece to camera. He states the people who drive cars with bad shock absorbers put themselves and others at risk, before also remarking that it's a pity more people don't know about the simple bounce test. A shot shows a mechanic rocking a car outside a garage, and he moves round to each side of the car repeating the process. He then checks the mileage on the car, and the voice over says that any car that has done over 25,000 miles is most probably suffering from worn shock absorbers. The mechanic gets into the car and drives into the garage. The mechanic looks at the belly of the car, checking the shock absorbers. Various faults with shock absorbers are then run through, with the filmmaker using close ups to show the damaged parts. The mechanic then removes a part and replaces it with an 'Armstrong' branded absorber. The presenter drives into a petrol station and asks the gas attendant for four litres of petrol. He then goes onto say that what has been witnessed during this film serves as undeniable proof for the necessity of efficient shock absorbers, and the 'Amrstrong' have always been at the forefront in this industry, servicing every F1 car, and 7 out of every 10 cars on the road in England. He then pays the gas attendant and tells that viewer that, should they have any problems with their shock absorbers, to go and see their local mechanic - they know all about 'Armstrong'. He then drives out of the petrol station, with the closing shot showing a Shock absorber testing station. Title - An Armstrong Film.