British Pathe

Southwark, London.

M/S of a man looking at a book which is balanced on a cupboard. He is checking heraldic designs as part of his work at a flag-making workshop. Flags were being made here in the reign of George the Third we are told over shots of the man walking through the workshop to a woman...

Southwark, London.

M/S of a man looking at a book which is balanced on a cupboard. He is checking heraldic designs as part of his work at a flag-making workshop. Flags were being made here in the reign of George the Third we are told over shots of the man walking through the workshop to a woman who is sitting at a drawing board. Over the shoulder shot shows the two consulting a book of heraldic crests. The drawing board is covered with heraldic designs. She shows the man several designs. L/S of her at work on the designs. C/U of details being painted - this silk badge will eventually be inserted on the Canadian Ensign we are told.

C/U of the woman artist - Jean Grunbaum. When new designs are wanted for company flags or other emblems Jean creates them herself. Over shots of the design being worked on the narrator describes the elements of the design. He also recounts the history of this workshop - flags were sent from here to Nelson's ships being the flags that were used to spell out his famous Trafalgar message: "England expects that every man will do his duty." The artist picks up her designs and takes the badge to the "machine room". M/S of a woman sitting at a sewing machine. She begins to sew the badge onto the flag. C/U of the sewing in progress. Overhead shot of the badge being sewn on.

Narrator explains that the workshop makes tents and exhibition drapes as well as flags. On Scott's Antarctic expedition their tents were used, and their decorations helped brighten 8 British coronations, including that of the present Queen (Elizabeth II). The workshop stands in the exact spot where in 1522 Henry the Eighth set up a tent to receive the Emperor Charles the Fifth. M/S of another woman at a sewing machine. Narrator tells of two new emblems, the clenched fist flag of Northern Ireland and the dragon of the flag of Wales. Seamstress holds up a Welsh flag.

C/U of the rope and toggle worker as he concentrates on his task. High angle shot of him sewing the toggle onto the flag. He snips the end of the thread then throws the flag onto a pile of flags hanging behind him.

L/S of two managerial type workers checking the flags. Narrator informs us how expensive the flags are. The two men admire various flags which are laid out in front of them. C/U of various flags.

Note: names mentioned in paperwork are Mr John B. Fagan, Mr Harold Gage, Mr Robert D. Hilton, Ronnie Gray (the "toggle man") Mrs Jean Grunbaum, Miss Gladys Crack and Miss Hetty Ellis.

The company featured is John Edgington & Co.