British Pathe

Documentary showing how socks are made by Wolsey in Leicester.

A man with prominent eyebrows and moustache stands in an office, looking out of a window. Another man sits at a desk, looking at paperwork. The first man turns to camera and tells us that Leicester is famous for knitwear, particularly...

Documentary showing how socks are made by Wolsey in Leicester.

A man with prominent eyebrows and moustache stands in an office, looking out of a window. Another man sits at a desk, looking at paperwork. The first man turns to camera and tells us that Leicester is famous for knitwear, particularly socks. He says the most famous name in socks is Wolsey and introduces us to Mr CK Eliott (man at desk) - the man in charge of Wolsey sock production. When asked how they make socks these days, Eliott shows us a large reel of yarn, a blend of wool and nylon.

Several shots at the Brune (sp? Broon?) Street Mills show the process of socks being made. Knitting machines in action, reels of yarn being used on machinery. A long length of socks joined together hangs from a machine. Women separate the socks, do other piece work on them at small machines and check them. Socks on sock shapes are washed and go through anti-shrink process in factory. Then they are steam pressed and have the size number and Wolsey name printed on them.

A man makes the final inspection of socks and pins them together. Socks on automatic carrying contraption, en route to the despatch department. C/Us of different kinds of Wolsey socks - 'Grip-tops', 'Cardinal', 'Viscount' and 'Top Form'. Shot of reels of yarns spinning round on machine. First man comments that with all this inspection he thinks very few faulty socks get through - C/U of one of the girl workers (the prettiest one, naturally), looking up and smiling. More shots of machinery, intercut with shots of happy, smiling and competent workers as we hear Mr Eliott extolling the virtues of his staff.

Cut back to office where our man thanks Mr Eliott. Zoom into him as he says "No wonder the most famous name in socks is Wolsey".

This is a great example of a 1950s documentary trying to show a rather boring subject in an upbeat way, complete with jaunty strings music!