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Ian Grace
USA
651 Posts |
 Posted - 21/09/2017 : 22:30:10
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Not sure if the existence of this film online is generally known.
21 minutes showing everything from casting the OHC cylinder blocks to vehicle dispatch from Cowley. Silent, but with subtitles, although everything is self-explanatory.
Very good footage of the engine manufacture, assembly and chassis stamping, riveting, etc.
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-morris-minor-manufacture-1929-online |
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LewPalmer
USA
3208 Posts |
Posted - 22/09/2017 : 00:41:41
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Unfortunately, they will not allow playing of the video outside the UK.
Lew Palmer
PA1169, PB0560 |
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Ian Grace
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 22/09/2017 : 01:24:19
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That's right Lew. I am in Seattle, as I think you know, but I downloaded a program called My Expat Network which enables me to watch it. In fact I can watch all the British TV channels with it too!
https://www.my-expat-network.com/
It is not free - about $72 a year, but it works faultlessly and can be installed in mere moments.
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Colin McLachlan
United Kingdom
987 Posts |
Posted - 22/09/2017 : 11:21:49
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OMG what a hoot! That factory is a Health and Safety nightmare.
quote:
The famous chassis erecting line at Cowley - the finest in Europe.
Two blokes, two rails, a spanner and a cigarette!
And, let's paint the chassis after we've fitted everything except the body!
Very entertaining. 
Colin
Markinch, Fife.
PA 0613
MG3242
Register No. 2591 |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3051 Posts |
Posted - 22/09/2017 : 12:37:18
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Talk about Dark Satanic Mills.
It is dreadful to think of the squalid and dangerous conditions these men worked in and how their health must have been destroyed. They are dressed in rags and work frenetically but not very efficiently. I find the film both fascinating and upsetting. 'A hoot' - Colin are you sure?.
Sam |
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Cooperman
United Kingdom
752 Posts |
Posted - 22/09/2017 : 14:35:56
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As a sixteen year old, in about 1958, I lived in Enfield and I went to a Technical School. We were taken on visits to various engineering companies one of which was the Ford factory at Dagenham. It didn't look much different to that film, we came home filthy dirty. But when I visited Rolls Royce at Goodwood recently, I know its only an assembly plant, but you could have eaten your dinner off the floor. Also what that film doesn't show is the noise, really deafening whereas RR was so quite that if a technician (I think that was what they were called) dropped a spanner you could here the tinkle as it landed on the floor.
John Cooper M 628 |
Edited by - Cooperman on 22/09/2017 14:37:41 |
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Eric Taylor
France
156 Posts |
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Richard Verrill
United Kingdom
345 Posts |
Posted - 22/09/2017 : 16:53:13
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Fascinating viewing, what strikes me is the grim and all the guys look so old, I wonder what the average age of the work force was?
Richard
PA1733 YA5206 |
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dade
United Kingdom
503 Posts |
Posted - 23/09/2017 : 09:51:09
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Hi Everyone
I also remember the Ford factory at Dagenham and in particularly the block moulding dept, I think they were moulding e93 blocks and it was exactly the same as the Morris set up except that the section was circular so each man had his own cubicle.
As I lived in Stratford as a boy most youngsters were destined to work at the Railway Yards at Temple Mills now part of the Olympic site or Ford,Briggs Motor Bodies and the Docks.
After seeing the Morris film and remembering the conditions I saw, I am wondering how I managed to avoid those "Dark Satanic Mills".
"I have just remembered" National Service for 2 years!!
Thank you Ian for posting such an interesting film and reminding us of how lucky most of us are are these days.
Russ
MG TD/PB
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Colin McLachlan
United Kingdom
987 Posts |
Posted - 23/09/2017 : 10:16:23
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Ah, Eric, that takes me back. I "spotted" Princess Arthur of Connaught as a teenager in Glasgow Central Station. One of the great Stanier Pacifics
Colin
Markinch, Fife.
PA 0613
MG3242
Register No. 2591 |
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davies
United Kingdom
699 Posts |
Posted - 23/09/2017 : 10:38:24
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| What was the production rate? -Rich |
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Ian Bowers
United Kingdom
937 Posts |
Posted - 23/09/2017 : 10:56:09
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This series of films not only shows the working conditions, both in terms of protection for the workers and the lack of handling equipment (and gloves for heaven sakes), but also the various 'classes' of workers.
A look at the work clothes, from tatty, tieless labourers to the trilby hatted, tie and suit wearing foreman, through the craftsmen in jackets and ties, says a great deal about knowing ones place.
I worked in both foundries and car body shops in the late 50's and 60's, where things had changed, but not much. Physical protection was not much better, but lifting devices were more prevalent.
Health and Safety legislation has worked wonders; the niggles are nothing by comparison with the improvements.
Ian Bowers
OD 6791
J3 3772 |
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Ian Grace
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 23/09/2017 : 16:37:06
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quote:
Originally posted by davies
What was the production rate? -Rich
Richard,
From the original production records, it looks like the initial production rate in late 1928 was about 20 cars a day - a mix of fabric saloons and tourers. The film concentrates on fabric saloon body construction because the tourer bodies were built by Morris in Coventry and arrived at Cowley by lorry. Some of the shots in the film show tourers, as well as the parallel production line making larger Morris vehicles.
The overall production rate for 34,599 OHC Minors from October 1928 to June 1931 works out at around 32.5 cars a day if one allows for the three week summer breaks which were used to transition to the new seasons' models. Production included tourers, fabric saloons, steel saloons, Semi-sports 2-seaters, vans and chassis bound for either UK coachbuilders of export for local bodying in the Colonies, chiefly Australia.
Incidentally, I thought I'd try to obtain a copy of the film. The website BFIPlayer is that of the British Film Institute's national film archive. Their website explains, "We regret that we’re unable to respond to requests for bespoke DVD copies and copyright restrictions prevent us from selling copies." I'll try anyway as I'm not sure that Morris Motors still hold the copyright after 88 years. |
Edited by - Ian Grace on 23/09/2017 16:46:32 |
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Ian Grace
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 23/09/2017 : 17:18:04
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Some production stills;
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