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We open with views of Midlands countryside (commentary talks about the 'heart of England') followed by an establishing shot of the parent company, Rubery Owen at Darlaston. The film then shows some of the products made by companies in the Owen Organisation. We see Harrison lathes being assembled; the Brooke Manufacturing Company of Birmingham making machine tools under the Cardinal brand. This is followed by views of a training course for new recruits contrasted with semi-retired workers who continue their employment at the firm’s 'Sons of Rest' centres. We then see shots of Alfred Owen with his brother Ernest Owen and another manager Charles Partridge followed by views of a BRM grand prix being tested. The firm's contributions to the motor industry continue with shots of Sunbeam cars leaving a factory (probably Rootes at Coventry) followed by axle assembly including the Eaton two speed lorry axle at the firm's Warrington subsidiary. We then see the design office, technical library and various testing activities followed by metal drawing and then pressing taking place at Motor Panels of Coventry. We see van bodies being assembled and sprayed by Motor Panels followed by large steel pressings for buses and lorries and completed Antar transporter lorries at the Thornycroft factory. This is followed by the Conveyancer fork lift truck (made in Warrington) and subsidiary factories in Canada and Australia. The next section shows Barber-Greene road making equipment (also made in Warrington), office furniture and the Easiclean range of domestic goods as well as Sutherland’s gas meters. This is followed by metal casting of anchors at C & L Hill Ltd in Willenhall; building frames for construction industry; and bricks being made by Bentley Hall at Walsall. We then see various distributors of the firm’s products: Charles Clark & Son; Shuker & Sons (Shrewsbury); Rogers and Jackson; and shots of farm machinery made by Salopian Engineers of Prees including a hay baler at work in a Surrey field. Smaller components are shown being made by Nuts & Bolts Ltd (Darlaston), Chains Ltd (Wednesbury); and Invicta Electrodes (Willenhall) who make arc welding electrodes. The final section shows the manufacture and testing of an aircraft undercarriage by Electro Hydraulics Ltd of Warrington for use on the Handley Page Victor bomber.
A Stanley Schofield Production
Script by Ian Stewart Black