Lost trades: The industrial origins of crafts and hobbies

In this story explore a series of photographs, taken between the 1930s and 1950s, which show people working in a variety of manufacturing industries which are perhaps more commonly associated with craft.

Basketry is one of the oldest crafts in the world, believed to pre-date pottery. Thin strips of wood, straw and plant fibres have been woven, knotted and twisted to form containers, furniture and tools for around 12,000 years.

Brought to the UK from China, cane furniture became extremely popular in British society from the 17th century onwards. Mobile tradespeople provided a portable ‘repair shop’, travelling from town to town and often working by the kerbside.

The Victorian era saw an explosion in the popularity of artificial floral displays. Factories sprang up to meet demand, but some of the less skilled tasks were carried out by poor families at home, often by children. The working day could stretch to as much as 18 hours.

However, fashions change, and the 1920s saw a decline in demand for artificial flowers. By the time this photograph was taken at a factory in Manchester in 1934, flower making was a dying trade.

In the 1940s and 50s, the British power industry struggled to meet the growing need for electricity in factories, shops and homes. With power cuts inevitable during winter, people were encouraged to use less electricity at peak times, and candle makers were back in big demand.

The neon lamp was invented by the French engineer Georges Claude around 1902; the commercial possibilities were quickly recognised. This photograph, taken in 1933, shows ‘glass benders’ at work at Boro’ Electric Signs Ltd. in what at the time was still an emerging industry.

From the 1920s onwards, neon signs were often used to advertise entertainment venues such as cinemas. Today, neon still conjures up images of venues such as Las Vegas and Piccadilly Circus, and is also used creatively by artists.

Consumer demand continues to impact the economy. Some of today’s industries will decline while others will emerge, and each of us will impact those outcomes through the businesses we support and the goods we buy. The future of industry is in our hands!