Singer Factory
Demolition of an iconic factory
- Description
- Questions & Activities
- Clip Details
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Description
A TV news insert about the demolition of the old Singer Factory. Here we see the clockface of the main building being removed. Singer Manufacturing Company's first Scottish factory was built at Bridgeton, Glasgow but demand grew so rapidly that the factory transferred from Bridgeton to a canal-side site at Clydebank and quickly became the factory of its type in the world. There were two sections, one making domestic machines and the other industrial machines. The Singer Clock became a well-known local landmark.
Questions & Activities
Questions
- What do you think the building in this film was?
- Why is the first shot filmed from inside?
- How have demolition practices changed?
- Why do you think it was significant to film this demolition?
Activities
English / Media Studies / History: The Singer factory was once the pride of Clydebank and one of the few major landmarks to survive the Clydebank blitz. Research the history and significance of the factory, then write a TV news insert to accompany the footage of this demolition. This might include a voice over interview, to describe the demolition of this landmark clock tower and what it meant to the person or people of Clydebank in terms of their sense of community and identity in a time of industrial decline and economic change. This could also be done as a simple creative writing exercise.
Health and Wellbeing / Business Management: This demolition locks spectacular but potentially dangerous. Try to spot the various dangers and discuss how our awareness of Health and Safety and risk assessment has changed over the years. .
Geography / Business Studies: View these clips and other manufacturing clips in this collection, such as 'the Big Mill' (sheet metal fabrication). Manufacturing industries have been on the decline in Scotland for the last fifty years. Research who are the biggest local employers in your area today and how many of them are manufacturers.
Clip Details
| Record Id | 007-000-000-369-C |
|---|---|
| Resource Rights Holder | National Library of Scotland |
| Project Ref | 5128 |
| Date | 1963 |
| Genre | TV News |
| School Subject | Geography, Business Studies, Business Management, Health and Wellbeing, Media Studies, Computing Science |
| Who | Templar Films (Production company) |
| Where | Clydebank |
| Event | Demolition |
| Attributes | Black and White, Silent |
| Clip Length | 1:47 |
| Film Length | 01:53 |
| References | www.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=005-000-000-973-C |