The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
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S.W. Wright - Wheelwright
Mr Wright the Lowestoft wheelwright and his vintage Morris car, filmed with affection by his son-in-law
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Overview
Mr Austin Mobbs filmed his father-in-law Mr Sydney Wright, describing it as 'a portrait of Dad, one of the old craftsmen', In Lowestoft, Suffolk, Mr Wright arrives at his workship in his treasured 1930s Morris car. Near retirement in his 80s, he shows how he would build a wooden wheel then fits an iron tyre. This traditional craft required skilled judgement by eye, and fast work as the metal softens and expands in the fire, then contracts around the wooden frame as it cools.
When the forge was in its heyday, 10 tyre rims would be heating in the fire together. After Mr Wright died, in 1979 the forge on Granville Road, Lowestoft was scheduled for demolition, and the Lowerstoft Archaeological and Local History Society had it described for their journal. Mr Wright had owned the site since 1942 or earlier, having been bombed out of his previous premises. The upper part of the building had previously been a sail-maker's loft. Equipment from the site was given to Lowestoft Museum including the forge, electric and hand bellows, anvil, mandril, wheel horse, painting horse, felloes and patterns, hand tools, two incomplete wheels and a leather apron.
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