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
Winding Journey
Across the great hidden divide separating production from product as the almost entirely female headscarved workforce labour to make electric motors in 1950s Huddersfield.
From the collection of:
Overview
The electric motor gets (almost) the full Hollywood treatment here in this story of how motors are manufactured in the 1950s by one of Britain’s biggest producers, Brook Motors. To the soundtrack of the British light music of the time, the mainly female workforce are seen displaying their skills as the slowly evolving motors pass along the conveyor belt from set of workers to the next, with insights into technology, marketing, and the sociology of work.
This is one of a great many promotional films made by Brook Motors of Huddersfield from the 1930s through to the 1970s. All the films provide a detailed account of how their motors are manufactured and their uses. Companies making promotional films of this kind were very common, and show just how much film came to be used in marketing. Although the film highlights the technological advances in the production process, we can see just how labour intensive factory work still was before the revolution in automation. Brook Motors began life in 1904 before merging with R.E.B. Crompton to form Brook Crompton in the late 1960s, and still manufactures electric motors that look remarkably similar to those in the film.
Related
Watch for free
Local Dialects Local Dialects
Factual TV 1987 10 mins Location: Huddersfield
This film takes us on a tour of Yorkshire and offers a profoundly interesting and focused examination of many of the area’s regional dialects.
Watch for free
The Homecoming: A Short Film about Ajamu The Homecoming: A Short Film about Ajamu
Drama-documentary 1995 17 mins Location: Brixton
Queer activist and artist Ajamu prepares to leave Brixton for an exhibition of his work in his hometown, Huddersfield
Watch for free
Canadian Army 1943 Canadian Army 1943
Non-Fiction 1943 9 mins Silent Location: Huddersfield
Canadian troops stationed in Yorkshire get a civic reception before a tour of the county, including a typical textile town and watching a typical wartime football match.
Watch for free
Where There's Brass Where There's Brass
Documentary 1969 45 mins Location: Scapegoat Hill
“If there’s music in yer, it has to come out”. But northern brass bands, as this film testifies, reveal so much more about working class life than its innate creativity.
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.