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
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
Watch for free
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Watch for free
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.