This film is part of Free
Men Who Work
Metropolis meets Top Gear in Longbridge, as the 19,000 men (and women) of the Austin motor factory go to work.
Overview
This finely crafted film gives an atmospheric, engaging portrait of the Austin motor car works at Longbridge. As the title suggests, it puts a respectful focus on the men behind the machines with some fine photography. The film was produced by the Travel and Development Association of Great Britain and Ireland - TIDA - formed to encourage international trade and tourism in the 1930s.
It is noticeable that when the film details the work of the factory floor it goes to great lengths to emphasise the craftsmanship of the men who operate the machines. Yet the description of the equally fascinating pay room emphasises the ingenuity and efficiency of the calculating and counting machines - almost forgetting about the women who operate them.
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