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The Town That Thread Built (Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 6/11/17 0:54 AM ET
For of all you threadishists, this TV documentary about the Coates and Clark families' cutthroat rivalry in the incipient thread sector is a fascinating watch. There's not much that deals with sewing, though--mostly it's about the rise and fall of Scottish industrialization and Paisley's mill culture, dominated by a mostly all-woman-workforce and entirely all-male-management. Lots of archival footage and fond firsthand accounts. BBC Channel Two Scotland
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Let be be finale of seam.
Posted on: 6/11/17 1:05 AM ET
In reply to janedoe0a
Oh, thanks for posting this! It looks great!
Link to "Paisley" on BBC
My first book was set in a (fictional) woolen mill town, so I have a keen fondness for the subject!
I'll try to catch it later on my tablet (probably at 4 in the morning when my elderly dogs can't sleep. :rolleyes:)
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Link to "Paisley" on BBC
My first book was set in a (fictional) woolen mill town, so I have a keen fondness for the subject!
I'll try to catch it later on my tablet (probably at 4 in the morning when my elderly dogs can't sleep. :rolleyes:) ------
~Elizabeth in the prairie
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
Posted on: 6/11/17 3:34 PM ET
In reply to stirwatersblue
I savored the Scots' remembrances of a time not so long-ago when a job meant a job for life, in which your friends and physical well-being were all part and parcel. I'd be very interested in hearing your take on how US mill life was like/unlike Paisley's. I probably have a stupidly romantic notion of earlier industrial life--read too much of Meridel Le Sueur's great work. But then, that sort of work/life is now rife with nostalgia, at least where it no longer exists. I do think your dogs will enjoy the archival footage and I hope you do too.
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Let be be finale of seam.
Posted on: 6/11/17 4:07 PM ET
In reply to janedoe0a
I'll have to try to catch this latter this evening. Sounds interesting.
I worked for a contractor at Eastman Kodak, a chemical plant, here in Tennessee in the early 90's. Most of the people that lived in the small town, Kingsport, TN, felt the same way about working in the plant even at that point. It was referred to as "cradle to grave service". They literally were incapable of thinking the plant and the way of life would ever be eradicated. When rumors of a lay-off occurred one young girl told me quite obnoxiously that I was an idiot for thinking that could ever happen, as lay-offs had never taken place in the company's history. Both of her parents were employed by the company. Her attitude towards me was way beyond ignorant and belligerent at the time, so I just kept my mouth shut - even when the lay-offs were announced months later.
There were interesting and good things about that way of life, but some things weren't so above board. The safety conspiracy for one - they loved to post how many days the plant had operated without an accident. But they didn't talk about the young girl who had to spend the day sitting in a dark room due to having cleaning chemicals spilled into both eyes and going to the doctor would have been a "lost time" accident. She could have been blinded. Or the time three floors were blown out of the building of an on site contractor - two people killed - and it never made the evening news anywhere. Or the fact that my installation crew insisted on accompanying me to the ladies' if we worked a night job - due to the ongoing proliferation of rape incidences. Or the day they lost control of their coal gasification plant and the entire island almost blew up. I was sitting on ground zero as the ground rumbled like an earthquake.
Cradle to grave service with a company comes at a price.
On a more positive note, any possibility Paisley's latest export is mentioned? I've not had a Paolo fix in a bit!
I worked for a contractor at Eastman Kodak, a chemical plant, here in Tennessee in the early 90's. Most of the people that lived in the small town, Kingsport, TN, felt the same way about working in the plant even at that point. It was referred to as "cradle to grave service". They literally were incapable of thinking the plant and the way of life would ever be eradicated. When rumors of a lay-off occurred one young girl told me quite obnoxiously that I was an idiot for thinking that could ever happen, as lay-offs had never taken place in the company's history. Both of her parents were employed by the company. Her attitude towards me was way beyond ignorant and belligerent at the time, so I just kept my mouth shut - even when the lay-offs were announced months later.
There were interesting and good things about that way of life, but some things weren't so above board. The safety conspiracy for one - they loved to post how many days the plant had operated without an accident. But they didn't talk about the young girl who had to spend the day sitting in a dark room due to having cleaning chemicals spilled into both eyes and going to the doctor would have been a "lost time" accident. She could have been blinded. Or the time three floors were blown out of the building of an on site contractor - two people killed - and it never made the evening news anywhere. Or the fact that my installation crew insisted on accompanying me to the ladies' if we worked a night job - due to the ongoing proliferation of rape incidences. Or the day they lost control of their coal gasification plant and the entire island almost blew up. I was sitting on ground zero as the ground rumbled like an earthquake.
Cradle to grave service with a company comes at a price.
On a more positive note, any possibility Paisley's latest export is mentioned? I've not had a Paolo fix in a bit!
Posted on: 6/11/17 6:37 PM ET
In reply to stirwatersblue
the BBC link only works in the UK it says ? I tried googling to find another option to watch it & so far no luck
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SEWING: Pfaff Performance Icon; Pfaff Performance 5.2; Baby Lock Ellegante; Elna Air Electronic SU; Singer Featherweight. SERGING; Baby Lock Imagine Wave; Baby Lock Acclaim; Baby Lock Coverstitch
Posted on: 6/23/17 3:05 PM ET
In reply to SPOOKIETOO
Sorry for my late reply. Thank you for your great post! I think I was hoping for, and certainly needed, your reality check. I've worked my fair share of us-v-them gigs, so I understand what you're saying and agree completely--cradle to grave does come at price, often a very high one. So, I had to wonder why I was seduced by the Paisley program's nostalgia. On one hand it's credible; Coats & Clark was a much more paternalistic co. than its US counterparts--not out of any sense of altruism, of course, but in order to keep its workers productive--so they helped with housing, healthcare, even social outreach. And the jobs gave women great financial security and independence, particularly during times when jobs were scarce, especially for their husbands. There's a scene where each of the interviewees does a droll imitation of the sound of the plant, which was apparently deafening, but there was no attempt to address the aural or any other work hazards there. But on the other hand I think I thinking about the current labor situation in which millions will--and must--do any sort of job to live day to day.
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Let be be finale of seam.
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