Film Number

11457

Title

THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE FODEN HEAVY OIL ENGINED COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

Producer

Empire Film Productions

Date

c1945

Gauge

16mm

Colour

b/w

Sound

sound

Running Time

31 mins 05 secs

Description

This promotional film is a detailed introduction to the work that goes into the production of Foden's vehicles. Mr J. E. Foden opens the film with an introduction to the company and a brief history. We then have music from Foden's Brass Band. We are shown the work that takes place in the Drawing Office, the Experiment Shop, and the Laboratory - with the staff members in charge of these departments a detailed description of the work that takes place in each department. We see the foundry, the welding shop, the machine shop, the frame shop, the assembly line, the paint shop and then the testing of the vehicles. There is also some detail about the aftercare of the vehicles, and we see the Engine Overhaul and Repair Department and the Spare Parts Department. There are scenes of the factory workers on pay day, and a brief description of the range of activities that Foden provide for the workers. We see a bus made by Foden easily navigating the narrow streets of Sandbach. We are then shown scenes of Foden vehicles at work in a diverse range of industries, including Hillhead Quarries, Earle's Cement Works, Shipstones Brewery and Northern Motor Utilities. We see stills of the various types of vehicle produced by Foden, and a long list of repeat customers. At the end of the film Ted Janson, who handles sales, encourages potential customers to get in touch.