The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Miraclean
Everything from Marmite jars to vinegar bottles, they all need to be cleaned, and here is how it’s done, without a rubber glove in sight.
From the collection of:
Overview
It is easy to take for granted the myriad products we buy that come in bottles and containers, assuming that these have all been properly cleaned. Well, here’s the proof, as Hills of Hull provide us with an overview of the revolutionary cleaning machine they designed in the early 1980s for just such cleaning, the Miraclean. Here it cleans Hammond sauce bottles, Guinness bottles, wine bottles, vials for medicines and bottles of pop.
This promotional film was made by Bradford film producers C H Wood. The company of Thomas Hill Engineering, also known as Hills of Hull, are still manufacturing similar machinery, although they seem to have dropped the brand name of Miraclean and replaced it with Invertaclean, possibly either because it is now a different design or because other companies also use the brand name of Miraclean. The soft drinks company of George Barraclough (Gee Bees) of Bradford also still exists – not to be confused with Victorian era Wine & Spirit merchants J Barraclough & Co – though the Hammond factory in Leeds moved to Bradford in 1985. Hammond took over the production of Yorkshire Relish in 1959 (now owned by Unigate).
Related
Hull F.C. v Hull Kingston Rovers (1902) Hull F.C. v Hull Kingston Rovers (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 4 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Rugby arch rivals lock horns in Hull.
Royal Visits to Hull Royal Visits to Hull
Non-Fiction 1978 14 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
The never ending Royal tour revisits Hull twice in a decade, with the Duke, the Queen and Prince Charles working their charm on children, factory workers and ex-seamen alike.
Hull's Tidal Wave Hull's Tidal Wave
Non-Fiction 1921 2 mins Location: Kingston upon Hull
A tidal surge in Hull prompts poignant newsreel pictures of wreckage and recovery.
The Port of Hull The Port of Hull
Documentary 1963 29 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Dry facts meet aesthetic beauty in this industrial film showcasing Hull’s status as a thriving international port.
Hull Fair (1902) Hull Fair (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 4 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
The ornate pavilions of cinematographs, boxing booths and menageries at Hull Fair.
Scenes at Monument Bridge in Hull (1900) Scenes at Monument Bridge in Hull (1900)
Non-Fiction 1900 2 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
A melee of traffic, carts, trams, bicycles and people of all ages squeeze past the camera in Victorian Hull.
The Big Country The Big Country
Promotional 1970 16 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Tuning into the biggest consumer market for television advertising in Britain with Trident TV.
Trip to Wembley Trip to Wembley
Amateur film 1982 3 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Fans celebrate as Hull FC take home the Rugby Challenge Cup trophy after the rematch declares their victory.
Preston Ladies Football and T.A. Volunteers Preston Ladies Football and T.A. Volunteers
Amateur film 1945 11 mins Silent Location: Preston
Playing the beautiful game - the ladies from Lancashire demonstrate their skills.
To Hull and Back To Hull and Back
Documentary 1983 26 mins Location: Kingston upon Hull
So much to see of Hull, with its great port, fishing history, historic showdown with Charles I, and two highly impressive public loos.
Oh Hull Oh Hull
Amateur film 1972 6 mins Location: Kingston upon Hull
A whole posse of jovial amateur filmmakers descend upon Hull to film many of the features now gone, such as the ferry and St Andrew’s fish docks.
The Port of Hull The Port of Hull
Documentary 1963 29 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Dry facts meet aesthetic beauty in this industrial film showcasing Hull’s status as a thriving international port.
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Blades Blades
Drama 2023 2 mins
A group of young Black boys run into a building. One of them is about to do the unimaginable.
We Collide We Collide
Romance 2023 2 mins
A queercore romance - a visceral and immersive exploration of the power of the mosh pit and finding love in the most unlikely of places.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.