Oil in Motion: A 1930s Odyssey of Mechanics and Speed

"Motorists really ride on a film of oil, because all the moving parts of the engine are kept slipping over each other by a thin film of oil"—this 1930s black-and-white gem spins that concept into a captivating reel of science and spectacle. From the snowy ramps of the 1936 Winter Olympics in Germany—where ski jumpers leap and lugers speed past Nazi flags—to the oily guts of a humming engine, this silent film glides through a world in motion. Picture skiers crossing wooden bridges, ice skaters slicing the ice with physics-explaining arrows, and sailboat-like sleds skimming frozen expanses. Beyond the slopes, a scientist soaps a filing cabinet, a train engineer lubricates a locomotive, and cartoons trace oil’s journey through pumping pistons. Coney Island boat slides, a greasy mechanic filming a dripping crankshaft, and oil sprayed on a blackboard add quirky charm. A treat for science nerds, history fans, and vintage buffs, this slick snapshot reveals how a thin film of oil kept the 1930s moving smoothly.