Chuck Bjorgen
I already know the answer having seen your explanation in that other forum. In another lifetime I spent time working in a commercial studio that did lots of product photography. That was the mid-sixties and in that time we would have supported a piece of plate glass over a seamless paper backdrop, lighted the background with a focussing spot and lighted the subject with a diffused light source. Obvious limitations would be the size of the subject, as you say, and running out of background, depending on the angle of the camera.

Your solution, Alan, was intriguing and the resulting photo is terrific. Also using stills was a nice way of presenting your material.