Telephone Cables: Machine Operation, Dagenham (1950s)

Fascinating glimpse of working life showing women operating machinery at the huge Telephone Cables factory in Dagenham in the late 1950s.

There’s some great scenes here of life inside a Dagenham factory in 1950s Britain, showing the factory floor of the Telephone Cables factory. This was one of Europe’s biggest manufacturers of electrical cables, and huge machines are shown spooling cables, many operated by women, with the odd suited foreman in the background. From the Telephone Cables collection.

Barking & Dagenham Heritage and Archives Service