PROJECT SWORD IN THE ITN FILM VAULT?

Now and then something historical turns up. Historical in the sense of the history of Project SWORD. The last discovery was the bus ticket campaign our old friend Toad found.

Well, Rob from Canada has stumbled onto something new. Whilst browsing the ITN TV Source site he found a description of some TV film footage featuring various space toys from 28th May 1968.

 

Here is the item description [and link]:

 

 

"U.K.: DISPLAY OF SPACE-AGE HONG KONG TOYS OPENS IN LONDON       

                                                                                                                               

ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED DISPLAYS OF SPACE-AGE TOYS EVER SEEN IN LONDON WAS ON VIEW AT THE HONG KONG TRADE CENTRE TODAY (TUESDAY) WHEN THE CROWN COLONY'S TOYMAKERS LAUNCHED A BIG DRIVE FOR THE BRITISH MARKET. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DISPLAY, WHICH LASTS UNTIL 14 JUNE, WAS REPLICA OF THE SURFACE OF THE MOON, LITTERED WITH SPACECRAFT OF ALL KINDS.

THE MOON TOY INCLUDED NOT ONLY ROCKETS AND SPACESHIPS BUT ALSO A MOON PROSPECTOR WITH A ROTATING SCANNER AND SEARCHLIGHT, A MOON BUS FOR TRANSPORTING MEN AND EQUIPMENT, AND A SCOOP SHOVEL FOR OBTAINING GEOLOGICAL SAMPLES. THERE WERE NO CHILDREN AT TODAY'S OPENING - ONLY BUSINESSMEN AND NEWSMEN. THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE COLONY'S 600 TOY FACTORIES ALREADY HAVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS SINCE THEIR INDUSTRY REALLY "GOT GOING" 15 YEARS AGO.

THE UNITED STATES TAKES NEARLY 50 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S EXPORTABLE OUTPUT - AND WITH THIS YEAR'S EMPHASIS ON SPACE, MANUFACTURERS ARE HOPING TO MAKE EVEN DEEPER INROADS INTO THE TOYS WORTH 7,500,00 STERLING LAST YEAR, FOLLOWED BY AUSTRALIA AND WEST GERMANY.

Reference 5479/68 Tape Issue Can 6437 Source REUTERS Restrictions Restrictions on certain uses may apply, and may vary from those listed. Time code Date original 28 MAY 1968 Duration 1.39 Technical 16MM/NEG + CM Subset Reuters TV - RTV Post 1957 Location LONDON, U.K. Sound Colourbw COLOUR

1. MV EXT. SHOP 0.03 2. MV INSIDE DISPLAY OF TOYS 0.06 3. MV PAN. ACROSS TOY MOONSCAPE 0.14 4. MV TWO ASSISTANTS LOOKING AT TOYS 0.19 5. CU MOON BUS IN GIRL'S HAND 0.24 6. CU ASSISTANT 0.25 7. CU MOON SURFACE VEHICLE 0.30 8. MV DITTO BEING PLACED ON GROUND, MOVING OFF, BUMPING INTO SIDES AND MOVING AWAY 0.43 9. CU DITTO 0.49 10. MV AIRCRAFT, ONE MPVING 0.56 11. MV ANOTHER MOVING ALONG COUNTER 0.59 12. MV GIRL PUTTING TOY PLANE ON GUARD 1.04 13. CU DITTO (3 SHOTS) 1.18 14. CU VEHICLE PLACED ON GROUND AND MOVING TOWARDS (2 SHOTS) 1.26 15. MV ASSISTANT KISSING BLOWN-UP TOY ELEPHANT 1.33 16. MV TOYS ARRANGED 1.39

InitialsRM/V/CCT/PC. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved"


With its references to a Moon Bus I feel sure its Project SWORD. Yes it could be refering to a 2001 Space Odyssey Moon Bus but I live in hope. I contacted ITN to enquire as to how we might see this footage. After establishing that it would be for my personal, rather than commercial use, this was their reply:


It's held on film so the cost to transfer to DVD would be £150 + VAT. This price entitles you to up to 10 clips.

 

 

Alas this is beyond my current finances so the footage will have to remain in the ITN vault and something of a mystery. I still believe its Project SWORD. Wonder if it was ever shown on the telly?

What do you think readers?