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Programme presented by John McLeod.
Excerpts from four archive films relating to industry in the Midlands are shown. There are cuts away from the films to the studio which is arranged like a film screening with an audience watching the films on a small screen. McLeod also conducts a number of interviews about the films and on the silent ones there is a commentary provided.
The first film is a short excerpt showing factory workers on a train journey to Blackpool in 1949 (not credited but it probably belongs to Ephraim Phillips Ltd of Birmingham who receive a credit in the end roller and are not connected with the other films shown).
Next we see an extract from a film produced by Rubery Owen of Darlaston (not stated but film is titled 'Old Hands' and is circa 1957) about the Sons of Rest scheme in which retired workers were found jobs in a workshop close to the factory. In the film we see production work at Rubery Owen; a newly retired worker, Joe Dutton; an interview with Sir Alfred Owen conducted by Huw Thomas; and workers in the Sons of Rest.
Back in the studio John McLeod interviews John Rainsbury, workshop superintendent who was involved with the Sons of Rest scheme.
Next we see clips from a film supplied by the Black Country Museum of the manufacture of a ship's anchor at N. Hingley & Sons Ltd of Netherton. Keith Gale provides a commentary.
The next film is A Trip Through Libertyland produced by Symington & Co. Ltd showing the manufacture of corsets at their factory in Market Harborough in 1929.
McLeod interviews three former Symington workers: Essie Wilson (?); Doris Heighton; and Ted Molson (?) who also provide a commentary during the film.
Next McLeod interviews in the studio Bob Braceguide from the Leicester Museum of Technology about the acquisition of the Symington film and Stuart Holm from the Black Country museum about the search for archive film.
The programme ends with clips circa 1904 showing workers leaving the Symington factory (these clips are part of A Trip Through Libertyland).
Presenter: John McLeod
Research: Geoffrey Negus
Films Courtesy of:
Rubery Owen Organisation
Black Country Museum
Ephraim Phillips Ltd, Birmingham
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery
R. W. H. Symington, Market Harborough
VT Editor: Graham Thompson
Production Assistant: Pat Harris
Director: John Pluck
Producer: Graham Mole
Central Television production number 3939/84.