The Development of Transportation 1933

This 1933 educational film, The Development of Transportation, produced in black-and-white 16mm with sound by the Division of Research, Department of Educational Talking Pictures, Electrical Research Products Inc. (ERPI), traces the evolution of human mobility. From horse-drawn carts to steam locomotives, Model T Fords, and early airplanes, it blends narration with visuals of bustling depots, factory lines, and skyward ascents. Prepared by ERPI—a Western Electric arm—for classroom use, this pre-war reel celebrates technological progress, framing transportation as a cornerstone of modern civilization in the Depression era.