Buses on Screen - The Baim Collection

Richard Jeffs has kindly allowed me access to a selection of films from The Baim Collection, and some screen captures are presented here.
Harold Baim was a director, producer, writer and producer of short films between 1946 and 1983. There are over one hundred 35mm short films in the collection, originally made for release in the British cinema, and a couple of feature films. The collection holds unique images of Britain as well as a selection of international travel films.
Nearly all of the surviving films are in colour; more than fifty of the titles are available on BETA SP tape. They are a fascinating source of illustrative colour material for general programme makers, entertainment producers, historians and documentary makers.
These films are informative guides to Britain's cities and towns; they are also a product of their time, a snapshot of British life. We see busy streets with motorcars, trucks and buses going about their business, and we see ordinary people at work and play.
Please note that The Baim Collection Limited owns and controls all of Harold Baim's copyright works.
For licence information and other requests for information please e-mail contact@baimfilms.com
The images and films listed here are copyright © The Baim Collection Limited 2006. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Telly Savalas Looks at Aberdeen (December 1981)

Alexander Northern NPE100 (HSA100V), a 1980 Leyland Leopard/Duple Dominant II, arrives in Aberdeen between an older Duple Dominant I-bodied Leopard and an Alexander bodied saloon.

There a several views of Aberdeen's Union Street, with various Leyland Atlanteans or Daimler Fleetlines of Grampian Regional Transport plying their trade, also a Leyland-National and Alexander-bodied AEC Swifts

Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham (December 1981)

Herein we listen to Telly Savalas enthusing about the MCW Metrobus. First we see West Midlands PTE 2032 (BOK32V) arriving at a bus stop, then we see it leaving the Metro-Cammell factory.

This shot becomes a street scene featuring this Park Royal-bodied Daimler Fleetline, 4620 (JOV620P)

Several more West Midlands 'deckers are seen at work, including this pair near Birmingham Repertory Theatre:

There are several Midland Red buses also seen - this Leyland Leopard/Plaxton is seen at the National Exhibition Centre in National Bus Company white, and another later Plaxton Leopard wears National Bus Company dual purpose livery:

An early Leyland National:

....and a distant view of this Daimler Fleetline/Alexander

Telly Savalas Looks at Portsmouth (December 1981)

Buses are not much in evidence in this visit to Portsmouth, other than a glimpse of a Southdown Bristol VRTSL3 and these Portsmouth Leyland Atlanteans:

There is however some interesting footage of an SRN6 hovercraft arriving at Southsea's Clarence Pier in a rough sea:

Big City (April 1963)

Narrated by Ed Bishop, this film looks at London. An opening sequence leads into a view of a Routemaster and a roofbox RT on a roundabout. Overhead trolleybus wires are visible, and as a second RT appears, a coach passes on the flyover behind.

There is much footage of traffic in Central London including a Routemaster on route 276, and an RT on route 53

This RT is seen in Park Lane:

A BOAC Bedford SB and a London Country RF are glimpsed passing the Royal Albert Hall; in the City RTLs pass eachother on route 6 and 6A

Another RTL passes St Paul's Cathedral

....and a London Country RT rounds Trafalgar Square

The Moneymakers (January 1964)

A documentary exploring the work of the Royal Mint, this film has a number of London scenes. In one, London Transport RM1607 (607DYE) on route 36A leads an unidentified Leyland Titan RTL on route 30.

There are views of money changing hands for various reasons, and this nice shot of a market stall with 1964 prices:

The footage of the process of minting money is detailed and extensive:

One Square Mile (January 1964)

A look at the City of London predictably features London buses, such as an early Routemaster and an RTL:

More interesting is this rare London Country RFW coach, an Eastern Coachworks-bodied AEC Regal IV, one of only 15 built for London:

Pete Murray Takes You To Coventry (August 1983)

One of the opening scenes shows a Midland Red Leyland National 2 at speed on Coventry's Kenilworth Road:

You don't see much of this Duple Dominant coach outside Coventry City Football Club:

West Midlands Daimer Fleetlines and a Midland Red mark 1 Leyland National are only glimpsed:

However we also see Coventry's Pool Meadow Bus Station:

Pete Murray Takes You To Hastings (August 1983)

Opens with a view of a Trathen's Plaxton Supreme-bodied coach at Dover's Eastern Docks, also a long shot of a Dover coach park.

In Hastings itself there is a glimpse of one of Maidstone and District's pair of open top Beadle-bodied AEC Regal IIIs.

In National Bus Company green livery, a Maidstone and District highbridge (14'6 high) Bristol VRTSL3/Eastern Coachworks leads one of its normal (13'8) sisters. In the second view M & highbridge VRTSL3 5839 is seen on Hastings seafront and another passes in the opposite direction:

Pete Murray Takes You To Nottingham (December 1982)

Nottingham City Transport doubledeckers are seen throughout this film. Although none are identifiable, it's a good bet that the majority are Leyland Atlanteans, and all display the distinctive Nottingham-designed body. This first bus passes behind the tallest police officer in the Nottinghamshire Constabulary: