There was a BBC radio programme, from 1941, called Worker's Playtime that was on every weekday over lunchtime. Devised to support the workers and try to keep them cheerful and positive: Workers Playtime, 1941 - British Classic Comedy But I believe a lot of this work was dangerous and Health and safety rules didn't seem to exist then.
Small Arms Limited, Long Branch, ON, Canada Near and dear to my heart as I am the proud owner of a 1942 Sten Mk 2, manufactured at this plant. Panoramio - Photos by SmallArmsCanada
And now I've got the Workers' Playtime theme stuck in my head... My children will be unamused by my humming in c.2 days time.
The Sphere 13 April 1940 The Making of a Big Gun: How the Navy is Supplied with its Mighty Weapons of Offence
Some great shots from the Lima depot. (And an M10 with a windshield.) United Motors Service and the Lima Tank Depot in World War Two
Great to see helmet manufacture in the mix. Most companies over a certain size operated their own Industrial ARP and their helmets often carried the company ID, badge, lettering etc in addition to the wearers role. The Industrial ARP must've been the biggest group of most variedly marked (not sure about the wording there) helmets....even the helmet-makers like Briggs Motor Bodies had their own ARP and their helmets were marked "BMB"........twice.
Some of these are splendid. Women's Factory, Slough - Search objects | Imperial War Museums WOMEN'S FACTORY WAR WORK AT SLOUGH TRAINING CENTRE, ENGLAND, UK, 1941. © IWM (D 3512) IWM Non Commercial License Now interested in this 'Government Training Centre'. The series shows a selection of serious trades being taught.
File:Women's Factory War work at Slough Training Centre, England, UK, 1941 D3624.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Tricia,your post reminds me of another communication intended to improve morale and motivate productivity.This was the programme "Music While You Work" broadcast at 1030 during the week.I think it was on the BBC Light Programme and continued for some time after the war. Incidentally,as regards health and safety,legislation was already in place with the various prewar acts such as the Factories Acts 1937,Electricity Regulations 1908, Mines and Quarries Acts et al which stood industry and its workers in good stead and were not updated until well after the war.
Overall a superb set of wartime history photographs showing the Home Front's contribution to the war effort. I would add that in those days to fill in for a shortage of skilled labour,in some trades there were personnel who had not completed a formal training course but were considered competent for a given job.These people were known as "Dilutees" and whose hourly rate was just less than recognised skilled labour....the practice was ongoing into the 1960s. Training for purpose was the key with those that had the aptitude.....an old colleague of mine told me that his wife was tank welding after 6 weeks training.
The theme for Music While You Work is imprinted on my brain too. We must have had the radio on non-stop in those days.