This is one of four commissioned paintings by Anna Airy depictingmunitions production during WW1. &n
This is one of four commissioned paintings by Anna Airy depictingmunitions production during WW1. It depicts the inside of amunitions factory where 15-inch shells are produced. Winches hangfrom the ceiling, and large steel shell cases sit on wooden trolleysin the centre.The Singer factory in Clydesbank, Glasgow opened in 1867 – thefirst overseas factory of this American sewing machine company. Thefactory switched to producing armaments during WW1.Scotland’s successful heavy industry was built on a) low investmentand b) cheap labour. Airy’s painting shows some of the results ofthis: basic handling equipment and disorganized production lines. In1911, the factory employees had held a major strike, with the slogan“An injury to one is an injury to all.” -- source link
#history#military history#labour#capitalism#ww1#britain#scotland#glasgow#clydesbank#anna airy#munitions#singer corporation#textiles