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Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website “Sucker Rods: The AMOCO Way” (1960s) is a color, Spanish-language informational film made by the AMOCO oil co. to demonstrate how the company services its wells using sucker rods. A sucker rod is a steel rod, typically between 25 and 30 feet in length, and threaded at both ends, used ito join together the surface and downhole components of a reciprocating piston pump installed in an oil well. The pumpjack is connected to the downhole pump at the bottom of the well by a series of interconnected sucker rods. This film features various scenes of the care and meticulous attention paid by AMOCO servicemen as they work on the oil rig. Opening credits (0:09). View from under pumpjack of carrier bar, horse-head as it lowers to the ground (0:34). Employees in hard hats stand at base of rig, inspect sucker rods as they are slowly drawn out of well (1:07). 1960s Chevy Flatbed delivers new replacement sucker rods, close-up special packaging to minimize damage during journey - rods between special wooden spacers, thread protectors on either end (1:37). Employee in hard hat stands on flatbed, prepares to carefully unload new rods by first removing chains used to secure rods during shipment (2:25). Crane carefully lifts sucker rods from flatbed (2:44). Workers lay wooden frames on ground where crane eventually lays rods (3:03). Employee uses lead, wire pliers to remove black bulk blades from rods (3:58). Service tools laid out on iron display area, serviceman selects riser - camera zooms in to show details, make sure riser is free from dirt and debris (4:16). Close-up of broken rod caught in faulty riser (4:47). Close-up hand in protective glove removes plastic thread protector caps, stores them in empty barrel (4:59). Removing rod protector: servicemen sit at either end of rods and chisel away at protector with screwdriver (5:38). Solvent sprayed on rod ends to ensure no debris, lubricant leftover (6:00). 1960s Chevy pickpup truck, pony rod tightened and adjusted to sucker rod as it lays on truck (6:19). Pony rod attached to drilling rig elevator, rod slowly lifted (7:07). Zinc tape removed from rod and it is lowered into pump, pony rod securely connected to pump (7:18). Team effort as three servicemen work together to clean threads of rod using wire brush and solvent, clear away debris, later add lubricant to pony rod (8:41). Rods are marked for tightness, where they should attach - hand wrenches used to tighten and secure rods (10:30). Men in AMOCO jumpsuits, hard hats, protective goggles watch as rod is lowered into pump, apply lubricant above pin of pony rod (11:07). Workers inspect and wipe the rods by hand, final check for imperfections (11:41). Marking rods with chalk or soft stone to denote proper distance that the joint is needed to turn, power tools affixed to rod (12:21). Workers repeat steps with precision, turning power tools, raising and lowering rod into pump (13:35). Preparations for switching to a larger rod: Changing the drilling rig elevator (15:25). Close-up of rod combiner used to connect two differently sized rods, silver of tube contrasts bright yellow of man’s shirt (15:36). Close-up applying combiner to pin in riser, lubricant placed, combiner screwed on by hand (15:53). Rod shears applied to combiner to tighten to proper offset (16:20). Final step in sucker rod installation: attaching the polished rod; close-up of polished rod combiner with letter PR stamped into it (16:57). Solvent sprayed on polished rod for final cleaning (17:32). POV from under the drilling rig elevator as it lifts polished rod up through rig, sun glare and blue skies (18:32). Serviceman repeatedly turns wrench to tighten rods, mouth clenched from exerting so much energy (18:59). View from under pumpjack of carrier bar, horse-head as it lowers to the ground, polished rod attached to carrier bar (19:40). AMOCO logo (20:13). The Amoco Corporation was founded by Standard Oil Company in 1889 around a refinery in Whiting, Indiana, and was officially known as the Standard Oil Company of Indiana until 1985. Amoco Corporation merged in 1998 into BP Amoco. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
