British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

London - The Living Fire

Series

Series Name
Mining Review 19th Year

Issue

Issue No.
4
Date Released
Dec 1965
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 1Caernarvonshire - Face Workers
  2. 2National Story - Pillars of Strength
  3. 3London - The Living Fire
  4. 4The Face of Leprosy

Story

Story No. within this Issue
3 / 4
Summary
NoS synopsis: London exhibition on making homes warmer
NCB Commentary - A banner headline drew crowds to London’s Royal Horticultural Hall for the biggest ever exhibition of ways to make a house a home.
It was a streamlined show aimed at the busy man and busy woman with half-an-hour to spend.
But some of the housewives - and housewives-to-be - had time to watch a practical cookery demonstration. Today’s clean, easy-to-run solid fuel cookers have just one thing in common with their black-leaded ancestors - they do produce the best food of all.
Thirty years ago an American notes that "the English play a game at home - it consists of moving one’s chair nearer to - or farther from - the fire."
Today things are different. The symbol of the exhibition sums it up - the whole house can be warm.
The bed is warm, but so is the whole room, and so is the whole house.
Visitors heard in helpful detail exactly what you can get from today’s solid fuel.
Coal fires have grown up. Today they are responsive, efficient and labour-saving. They burn night and day without going out. Domestic boilers are automated. They will stoke themselves. And they look good, too.
Today a complete heating system can be installed in your home for a fixed price, agreed beforehand. No arguments, no hidden extras.
There was a place to rest, and talk things over with the experts.
And once you’ve got the house warm - there’s no point in letting the heat escape through the pipes and roof with so many different lagging materials to choose from. And don’t forget to lag the hot water tank - and bring a new touch of gaiety to the linen cupboard.
Economic and efficient heating were the keynotes of the show - with the bonus of the living fire.
Keywords
Domestic life; Mining; Exhibitions and shows; Fuels
Locations
London; England
Written sources
British Film Institute Databases
Films on Coal Catalogue   1969, p.51
The National Archives COAL 32   /13 Scripts for Mining Review, 1960-1963
Credits:
Sponsor
National Coal Board
Production Co.
National Coal Board Film Unit

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