Automation Hits Tennis Aka Tennis Machine (1959)

Essex School of Lawn Tennis, Chingford. Various shots showing a new tennis serving machine being demonstrated. The machine is loaded with tennis balls which are automatically fired at waiting tennis players. The machine is loaded by tennis coach Lionel Bradford. Various shots of Lionel tending to the machine, of the girl who is practising her strokes. Narrator praises the coming of automation to tennis, calling the serving machine “a robot“. Two young players use the machine to practice their technique. A woman loads the machine with balls. As narrator describes how machines like this will change tennis coaching the film is sped up so that it looks like the balls are being despatched really quickly - quite funny. Nice quirky music throughout. Note: woman loading the machine is Pat Bradford. Eric Jenkins is also featured and the boys are Brian Hawes and Edward Bovis. Information about the machine and newspaper clipping on file. FILM ID: A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE