Video entitled ‘Harry Grindell Matthews, “Dr Death Ray”, Clydach, Swansea’, regarding the life and career of Harry Grindell Matthews, inventor, who lived his later years in a house on Mynydd y Gwair, near Clydach. He is most famous for his alleged death ray, but also did work on talking pictures, radio telegraphy and lasers. Presented by Greg Ballantine, edited and produced by Peter Hall. Length 00:19:46. The film includes a short promotional film of Matthews’ work by Pathé, 1924, showing him demonstrating his ‘death ray’ to ignite gunpowder and igniting a light bulb (c. 8 minutes in length) entitled ‘H. Grindell-Matthews’ death ray. A picturization of some of the present and future possibilities of a great scientific discovery’.

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 216 D/D Z 717/80
  • Dates of Creation
      2020
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      1 CD-ROM containing video file in MP4 format, 602 MB