Sewing Machines (1934)

Location unknown, London? Primitive woman of the stone age dressed in lather and with overgrown hair sowing with a large primitive needle and thread. A young woman trying on a white lacy ball dress with another woman hand-sewing. Succession of shots showing the progress of sewing machines from the primitive ones with one thread until the modern machines used in the time of filming. Women were seen using the machines - many close up shots of the needles digging into fabrics. A girl modelling the white ball gown returns. Close up shot of a hand sewing with superimposed letters saying ’30 stitches a minute’. Close up shot of a modern sewing machine at work with superimposed letters saying ’2,000 stitches’. Several shots of the girls wearing shorts and blouses dissolved into images of fabrics rolling from a conveyor belt - it is all industrialised - there is no need to hand sew any more. FILM ID: A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT’S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES