The ABC of Hand Tools

I remember watching this in the 1980's at the beginning of the shop class semester. The animation is well done, the information is still accurate and instructional.

Every boy should see this film, as should anyone who might one day use a tool.

The usefulness of the ABC of Handtools isn't just to mechanics or professional handymen. This film will help illustrate why you should use hand tools in a specific fashion, and why you should avoid certain types of common abuse (i.e. hammering on a wrench, or which type of screwdriver you can use a wrench on). They don't teach this in schools anymore.

Bill Scott directs this Disney cartoon, originally released by General Motor's industrial films division. This was the subtlest form of advertising, akin to a public service, like Texaco's decades-long sponsorship of the broadcast of New York's Metropolitan Opera on the radio. A discreet title card announces this is from Generals at the beginning, and one likewise at the end.

In between it discusses how to choose, use and care for the woodworking and metal-working tools that everyone's father kept around the garage, or occasionally in a separate room. Although born of the standard ideas that men took care of the repairs, it had become a status matter at least by the 1950s. Of course my father had all the correct files, punches, saws, chisels, hammers and a wide assortment of nails and screws, each type carefully arranged in its proper place. He also had an electric circular saw, a monster that he graciously allowed the neighbors to use.

Disney put effort into their industrial films, as well as their theatrical ones. There is a continuing character, Primitive Pete, who uses all the tools wrong, and the animation is the same, high standard, even if the background work is minimalistic.