The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free

Visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen to the Works of Chance Brothers and Co Limited
19 April 1940 finds the King and Queen on a morale boosting visit to the glassworks of Chance Brothers in Smethwick - another vital cog in the wheel of British war production.
Amateur film 1940 8 mins Silent
From the collection of:

Overview
The Spon Lane works of Chance Brothers, makers of optical glass, was considered so important during the war that a shadow factory was created in St Helens, In this film the King and Queen are shown around the works by Hugh and Walter Chance. They stop off at various sections including those making sound locators and lighthouse glass. During the tour factory workers look on - an hour out of their vital war work.
The 'shadow factory' in Saint Helens was established so that it could continue productionshould the Smethwick factory be bombed.The Chance Brothers factory in Smethwick was closed in 1981. After many years under the ownership of Pilkington the surviving Chance factory at Malvern became independent again with a management buy-out in 1992.
Related
Keep the Wheels Turning

Yesterday Is over Your Shoulder Yesterday Is over Your Shoulder
Industry sponsored film 1940 8 mins
An enticing government call for men to retrain as skilled engineers to help with the war effort.

Warwork News No 11 Warwork News No 11
Government sponsored film 1942 12 mins
Wartime news magazine for factory workers, sponsored by the Ministry of Supply. News items often stressed the value of the 'factory front'.

Worker and War Front No. 3 Worker and War Front No. 3
Government sponsored film 1942 11 mins Location: Liverpool
A wartime magazine made to motivate and inform war workers, commissioned by the Ministry of Information in 1942 and exclusively screened in factories.

Behind the Guns Behind the Guns
Documentary 1940 20 mins Silent
A Second World War propaganda film, looking at the industrial might behind Great Britain’s armed forces.

Shipbuilders Shipbuilders
Government sponsored film 1940 10 mins
Shipwrights, plate-fitters and riveters support the war effort as their ships take majestic shape in this tour of British shipyards.

The Port of Cardiff 2 The Port of Cardiff 2
Promotional 1943 25 mins Silent Location: Whitchurch
Meat and wheat, oranges and eggs (dried), salmon and peaches (tinned) arrive in Cardiff from Brazil, America, Canada and New Zealand to keep war-time’s wolf from the allied door.
Smethwick

Asian Jewellery Asian Jewellery
News 1978 6 mins Location: Smethwick
Hindu and Muslim creations in gold inject bright new styles into Birmingham's jewellery making industry.

Smethwick Foundry Industry Smethwick Foundry Industry
Magazine and Review show 1983 8 mins Location: Smethwick
The dirt, grime and molten metal of the foundry has long reflected the strength of West Midlands industry; but for how much longer?

Corbett Street Flats Corbett Street Flats
Non-Fiction 1970 3 mins Location: Smethwick
The Boulton Place flats in Smethwick are 14 years old but some residents who used to be proud to live there want them pulled down. What's gone wrong?

Noise in Council Flats Noise in Council Flats
Non-Fiction 1965 4 mins Location: Smethwick
Blissful long summer days with children playing outside late into the evening. In Smethwick not everyone is enjoying the fun.

Sikh Games Sikh Games
Non-Fiction 1979 4 mins Location: Smethwick
Strength, speed and agility on show at the Sikh Games held at Hadley Stadium in Smethwick with a special welcome for local weightlifting hero Gian Singh Cheema.

Black Vote Black Vote
Current affairs 1980 13 mins Location: Smethwick
"There's been no active encouragement for black people to participate within the political structure of this country". A bleak picture of the lack of equality in Britain.
New

Stray Dogs Come Out at Night Stray Dogs Come Out at Night
Drama 2020 11 mins
Having left home to work with his uncle, Iqbal finds himself unable to return because what he is running from is not confined to the city.

Wig Wig
Drama 2019 26 mins
Arkita believes herself to be be modern, liberal and independent. An unprecedented encounter with a transgender sex worker questions her beliefs.

Meow or Never Meow or Never
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2020 10 mins
In a madcap musical, a 'cat'-stronaut travels the galaxy looking for the meaning of life and encounters a space pup eager to help.

#WeAreHere #WeAreHere
Short documentary 2021 4 mins
A South Asian gaze on representation, inequality and discrimination in UK film and TV, set against the backdrop of the casting room.

I Choose I Choose
Drama 2020 11 mins
A young mother takes the biggest risk of her life when she makes a choice.

Vest Vest
Drama 2020 12 mins
A fostered little boy runs away from home to potentially dire consequences.