Thursday 2 July 2009

Blue Film

Imagine the excitement at finding this little box. I mean, it had to be a old-fashioned, badly-shot blue film didn't it? It even had 'blue' stamped on it for goodness sake. And '1943' somewhere. The fantasy continued- would it be WAAFs being introduced to the finer points of timber barn construction by moustachio-ed parachutists, or girls in control towers being distracted from Lancasters landing with a wheel missing? With their headphones still on? But no. Oh, it's a blue film alright. A reel from Lindsay & Williams of Manchester that looks like it would be on the top shelf. Of the ironmongers. The end flap says: 'Parafilm is an amalgam of highly refined paraffin wax and pure rubber with the addition of colouring matter. Parafilm is thermo plastic non-hygroscopic, an excellent insulator and can be used with advantage in place of ordinary insulating tape, particularly in wet situations'. I don't think we need to dwell on any of that, do we? Thoughts on the aeroplane? An Avro perhaps?

34 comments:

Jon Dudley said...

Whoa there tiger! This damned heat is getting to all of us. WAAFs leaning over the plotting table? whatever next. A wonderful image (the WAAFs and the pack), not sure if it's an Avro 501 which I thought had a radial engine...the sleek cowling on this beauty suggests an in-line powerpack. Sorry, anorak alert! Another piece of the designers art that's a candidate for enlargement to six feet square. You certainly find 'em Mr.A.

accountant said...

It looks more like a Hawker Hart or one of it's many derivitives. probably the most elegant of the RAF's bi-planes. sorry this is coming a bit plane spotterish.

Peter Ashley said...

Keep the aero stuff coming lads. At least it's taking our overheated minds off Airforce Blue.

Jon Dudley said...

Hawker Hart's a good 'un acc...would that I had my dog-eared 'What's that plane?' spotters book (1938 edition) with those silhouette drawings. I wonder if they did one for WAAFs?

Bucks Retronaut said...

It think it might be the same type of plane as Amy Johnson`s Jason wHatever that might have been.
I remember seeing her picture with a representaton of said plane on the cover of some sheet music which I think was for the song "Amy,Wonderful Amy."

And just to stoke things along a bit,all I think I need say is....SUSANNAH YORKE !!!

LostinManc said...

I was thinking more of Honeysuckle Weeks in Foyle's war....

Jon Dudley said...

Ah, the fragrant Susannah...oh dear, why did you mention her Bucks? and on such a hot day too.

Don't think it's an Amy Johnson kite. What was it with those early flying gals? Just one was Beatrice Shilling, OBE PhD MSc an ex-Brooklands motorcycle racer who developed a vital fuel delivery modification for Spitfires thereafter known as 'Miss Shilling's orifice'. And what about Amelia Aerhart of whom songs were written, viz -

Theres a beautiful, beautiful field
Far away-ay-ay in a land that is fair.
Happy landings to you, amelia earhart,
Farewell, first lady of the air.

Pass the tissues please...(don't even think it, Bucks)

Diplomate said...

i'd be throwing my lot in with accountant, too early for a Hind but the u/c's not quite Hart from memory. Given that the graphic artist's licence is broader than anybody elses i reckon we could go with Hart.

Mel said...

Talk about hot and bothered. Or do I misunderstand? Just to confirm, I checked weather dot com to see what all the fuss was about there... high of 84 today. That's hot? Oh dear. You gents are certainly in cahoots today. I don't have any plane stuff to contribute, as my meagre knowledge is limited to those of WWII. Dad was a Night Flyer. OVER Germany not for; he flew reconnaissance and more out of GB, France and Turkey.

Bucks, I am surprised. Your profile says you can't be bothered with celebs (didn't specify a decade or century) nor tv programmes.

Gents, while your saliva is still warm (ah yes, the weather) why not check out another Amy, Amy Adams playing Amelia and flying the Wright flyer inside the Air and Space Museum in Night at the Museum Battle for the Smithsonian? She is quite lovely in her period flying leather and finger waves (if you can't beat 'em...) And if you can't handle the weather your way, you'll never make it to DC in the summer to visit in person.

(Tongue removed from cheek.......

NOW.)

Oh, and Peter, I am truly sorry for your disappointment; a lovely graphic still?

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010736/

Puddler said...

Bucks........I believe Amy's "Jason" was a de Havilland Gipsy Moth. While we're on songs also, Al Stewart refers to Amy in Flying Sorcery on his Year of the Cat album...one for those of a 70s vintage.

TIW said...

I'd also go for the Hart. But a Hart that's been described over the telephone to someone who's never seen one.

Bucks Retronaut said...

Perish the thought JD.
You`re secret`s safe with me ! ;-)

Straightening up and Flying Right,I`ve just remembered Diana Barnato Walker who died last year at tha age of 100 I think .Daughter of Bentley Boy, Woolf Barnato,she was an ATA girl.(Air Transport Auxiliary )delivered Spitfires ,had the looks of a fashion model and broke the sound barrier(Buffetting,Buffetting!and all that sort of thing) at the controls of a jet, in comparatively advanced years, just for a jolly !
Atagirl indeed to her, all the above, and others like them whose numbers I reckon are sadly not being replaced .
And Puddler....What about Al Stewart`s line about A Bottle Green Bentley In The Driving Rain.
(Lasy Day Of June 1944 ?) as well !

ragnarhairybreeks said...

Parafilm is still made and used (laboratory work, stretching over and sealing flasks, around edges of petri dishes etc).

Current package design (http://www.2spi.com/catalog/supp/supp4b.shtml)

I like the older design much better.

Jon Dudley said...

Diana B-W - I'd forgotten her! Yes, she died comparatively recently did. Real dizzy kippers the lot of them! The Hawker Hart seems to be getting the majority vote at the moment apart from Diplo who favours the hind...

I've had the extreme misfortune to be in DC when it's been 'warm'...you're quite right Circe, we have nothing to complain about, and particularly when strolling along the prom at Brighton this afternoon!

Jon Dudley said...

Died/did? sorry - keyboard meltdown. Would it be possible for you to correct our posts Mr.A?
Just sent out for frozen 'Jubbly'.

Bucks Retronaut said...

Sorry Circe......Its "celebs" (in inverted commas ) that fail to float my boat.
Celebrities ,(aka Proper People) are ok !
As the old Brooklands strapline had it "The Right Crowd and No Crowding ".

Affer said...

The Hart, and all subsequent variants, were two seaters, and this appears to be a single-seater. It is therefore a badly-drawn Hawker Fury, in many ways the progenitor of the Hurricane.

Diplomate said...

Oh bravo Affer,I've just blown up the pic and i'm with you on the single seat variant - the not very furious Fury it'll have to be then.

Peter Ashley said...

Glad we've got that bugger sorted out.

Jon Dudley said...

Let's have an indistinctly drawn flower next...that'll run and run!

Mel said...

Bucks, thank you for the clarification! ;) I wonder if I ever hit my 15 minutes, if I would qualify as "proper"? Moot point in so many ways...

Jon, yes in my book, to prom in Brighton would be lovely, no matter the weather. Living here does toughen one up a bit!

Ragnar, yes, the new packaging certainly not worth the money they spent to change it.

So easy to tempt the question, what am I doing visiting in this boy's club? But perhaps the answer lies in a better question; why do I keep an old Midnight typewriter ribbon box in my post deco cross cut white oak highboy's unmentionables drawer? It has always been there, even when the "drawers" were not my own.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YnI_dEgsJ_s/R5AR8gL79EI/AAAAAAAAHkI/4pHnI7bO1zY/s400/typetins-blues2.jpg

Jon's profile claims he suffers fools gladly. Thank you, gents, for suffering an American gal in this mostly British boy's meetup!

Now, I'm off to celebrate our Independence! (No offense!) ;)

Those ARE winks, by the way.

Peter Ashley said...

Circe: You're extremely welcome. And Happy Independence Day. Do you set fire to a turkey or something?

Mel said...

LOL! Suitable comment escapes me (still), though many have come to mind!

Thanks, Peter, in any event.

:)

Anonymous said...

yaar i got good bluefilms links from www.nhaku.com its virtual search engine from google i suppose

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