Singer, Kilbowie factory, 1931

[garynortheast]

Now obviously as someone with an interest with these old machines I found this film fascinating. This factory must have been at the cutting edge of industrial technology at the time. 36 million machines manufactured in this one factory between 1885 and 1943, 7000 people employed there at it's peak, 13 miles of their own railway lines. A real window into the past.

Find a spare hour and a bit, make a pot of tea and have a look at a snapshot of our industrial heritage.

Singer Films - The Birth of a Sewing Machine

https://youtu.be/bIMxwy8CLkw?si=qkCbbg_aC4F3iYWD

[redtrummy]

I shall enjoy watching that later when today’s toil is done

[garynortheast]

I got the title wrong, it was filmed in 1934 not 1931.

[Sir Trev]

I shall have to watch that in parts. First bit is already fascinating - the orderly stacking of the pig iron and timber in the outside yards and the sheer scarf everything is amazing.

Reminds me of the British Transport Films of the same era. A glimpse into the past.

[redtrummy]

Makes you realise just what work was required to make a utility item that is easily taken for granted. Never realised just how many sewing machines were produced

[Luckypants]

I'll watch that in bits too or when I have a little more time....

It is of interest as I worked at the site back in the late 90's. It's all what they called 'advance office space' now, built after the site was levelled to attract white collar jobs to the area. The mainframe support and development teams for a large bank were located there. I had a 6 month contract to install some software upgrades. So there was plenty of well paid jobs there then, but 100s rather than the 1000s in Singer's day. Unfortunately very few of the workers came from Clydebank as they lacked the skills and most people commuted. The site still had a well served station of its own, which made it easy for me to stay in Glasgow and train out to Clydebank daily. Nearly all the office workers there did the same.

[Sir Trev]

That was a cracking film. From back in the day when clearly lots of people made or altered their own clothes, as the volumes were amazing. The investment needed to install your own transport network, stores, foundry, machine shops, wood shops, assembly lines, canteen (we assume, didn't see it but I bet it was substantial), and the rest. All to make machines 99% of people today would not have a clue how to use. Me included...

Great find Gary.

[Bibio]

Wowsers, never knew that the factory was in glasgow. Its amazing that everything was made in-house, that just does not happen these days. Thanks for sharing Gary.

[garynortheast]

They had a number of different factories worldwide. The Clydebank one came about after they outgrew the Glasgow site.
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/history/factories/