This film focuses on the production of a crane at Thomas Smiths of Rodley. Commentary by Frank Philips. A times Film Production. The film opens with shots of different Smiths cranes, diggers, etc before moving to various scenes of Rodley and Works. The film focuses on the different stages of production in some depth. These stages include drawing, planning, pattern making, and moulding while concentrating on a steam crane cylinder valve pattern. It also covers this Smiths' shop,...

This film focuses on the production of a crane at Thomas Smiths of Rodley. Commentary by Frank Philips. A times Film Production. The film opens with shots of different Smiths cranes, diggers, etc before moving to various scenes of Rodley and Works. The film focuses on the different stages of production in some depth. These stages include drawing, planning, pattern making, and moulding while concentrating on a steam crane cylinder valve pattern. It also covers this Smiths' shop, forging, tool room, gear cutting and pressure testing before being given the Brunel mark. Factory workers are shown working with templates and oxyacetylene welding of plates and frames for the crane. During this process there is a mechanical manipulator to allow work from different angles. This is followed by a good overhead shot from a crane of Heavy Machine Shop and machinery. Other parts of the factory are documented including the canteen, workers playing football, and the medical room. New machine shop footage features gear cutting and hardening followed by the erection of a crane body onto a frame for testing before painting, dismantling, and crating.