At Work

Although there are fewer pictures of people at work than on holiday or on a special occasion, the archive of family photographs nevertheless gives valuable insight into aspects of people's working lives. They reveal something of the conditions in which people worked, the machinery and equipment they used, and the types of goods which were produced. The photographs also show many people at work in occupations which once employed thousands, but have now all but vanished. 
Most of the photographs are taken inside mills, factories, workshops or offices. However, there are also some taken inside the studio, where men and sometimes women would be photographed wearing the dress or the uniform of their trade or occupation.

Many of the people who donated copies of their family albums of the DPA spoke of the popularity of "photographic clubs" which were organised to help people save for a visit to the studio. A group of individuals, usually 12-15 in number, would agree to pay a proportion of the cost each week, usually threepence or sixpence. When enough money had been raised to pay for the cost of the photograph, there would be a lottery to decide whose turn it was to go into the studio. This meant that the cost was spread over a number of weeks, and this helped helped in particular the poorer workers.

It is interesting to note how many of these photographs contain women at work, sometimes in places which many might now find surprising, such as at the coal face

A view of men in the Iron Foundry at the British Westinghouse Engineering and Manufacturing Company's works, Trafford Park. The photograph must be pre 1919, as in that year the company was taken over by Vickers Ltd. and became the Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Company.	Mine Rescue Team. Back row: 2nd from left, Alderman Winstanley.; He had a Temperance Bar in Blakeley.; Before that he was a miner	Ironmoulders at P.R.Jackson & Co., Hampson Street, Salford in circa 1920. J.E.Washington 3rd from left, top row	William Orrett when he was a postman (he worked at Newton St. Post Office, Manchester.)
Mill workers from Mirfield, Yorkshire, pre-1900	Pit Brow girls, Wigan	Girls screening coal, Wigan	Doris Jenkins doing war work at I.C.I. Blackley, early in 1943, shovelling salt for photographic process to make hydroquinone. She worked in AZO shed with 7 or 8 other women for Dr Waddington.
Grannie Cousins", the local 'Knocker up' in c.1912, standing behind the studio and beside the dining room window of 12, North Street, holding her pole up to a bedroom window. Harrie Belben sold copies of this postcard to visitors to Poole as a curiosity and he and Grannie Cousins shared the proceeds.	Police arrest-training. No date	Labour exchange. Details on slide: waiting for work - 11 a.m. 12 ... No date	The tar pits at Walkers Tannery, Bolton. William Blackburn, who deposited this photogrpah, is slightly forward in the centre. He described the routine of the work and its hazards. Each pit was filled with tanning liquor of varying strengths. These man had to transfer the hides, which were attached to the poles, from one pit to another. The gangways between the pits were very narrow, and it was not unknown for workers to fall in. Tubs of water were on hand in case of such accidents. This is one of a series of 50 photographs which document every department within the tannery.
Telephonist, possibly Marian Harker. No date	The first two women volunteer conductors for Manchester Corporation Tramways in World War One. c. 1914-18	Samuel Smith, blacksmith, Denton, Manchester	Noble's Upper Mill, Dobcross, where Mr. Gill's father was an apprentice joiner. He is the one sitting. The other apprentice was called Edward Hewkin. Photograph taken at the turn of the century.
A blind clogger, N.C.H.O. Edgworth. No date	The smithy in Turton Bottoms owned by the Howard family	Office in the York Street Telephone Buildings, Manchester, c.1909. The person who donated the photograph worked there sorting telephone tickets for bills	Interior of City Pawnbrokers. Gilbert's, 4, Withy Grove, Manchester. c1900s
Tailoring workshop, Cheetham Hill, before World War One.	A bicycle repair shop in Todmorden.	Selling ice-creams in North Manchester, c.1928	"Charlie", the knocker up in Ordsall Lane, Salford. Pre 1964. He charged sixpence per week.