Interesting 1959 documentary on the art of gold beating

Pathé shot this cool documentary of British artisans turning gold blocks into gold leaf. There's clearly a lot of remarkable skill involved, but there's also a remarkable lack or hearing protection around some very noisy machines.

This documentary has everything: delightful voiceover, impeccably dressed factory workers calmly plying their trade as finger-crushing machinery clanks inches away, and fascinating trivia. For instance, they cut the finished gold leaf with sharpened bamboo, because it would stick to steel.

The Art of Gold Beating (1959) (YouTube / British Pathé)