Crash Helmets (1955)

Guildford, Surrey. C/U shot of ball bearings being poured into a canister. M/S of the canister hanging from the chin strap of a crash helmet, testing its endurance. This is one of the tests “a helmet has to survive to gain the British Standards Institution Seal.“ A woman’s hand takes one helmet and the documentation on which the helmet was placed. Among the helmets which are chosen to be tested are prototypes, production models sent by manufacturers and samples picked randomly during on the spot checks. High angle shot of different crash helmets on a table. There follows a succession of shots of different tests. Voiceover explains procedures and the outcome of these tests. M/S of the woman (assistant Sheila Thomas) placing the helmet on the scale to weigh it. High angle C/U shot of the helmet on the scale. After weighing, helmet is squashed, watered, hit, pressed, and if it fails any of the tests - rejected. Filmed helmet failed a ’heavy impact’ test. Piece of carbon paper wrapped in plain