| Ref No | MS 4000/5/1/9/17 |
| Title | Sound recording of George Dunn of Quarry Bank, Staffordshire (1887-1975) singing the 'Millers Song' and talking about street fighting and the chain making industry |
| Level | File |
| Date | 06 February 1975 |
| Description | Recording of interview by Charles Parker of George Dunn (GD) singing the 'Millers Song' and talking about street fighting and the chain making industry.
Track 1: Duration (min/sec): 0.06 Description of track: [some noise at start of tape]
Track 2: Duration (min/sec): 1.55 Description of track: GD sings 'Millers Song'
Track 3: Duration (min/sec): 0.58 Description of track: explains the Millers song
Track 4: Duration (min/sec): 1.31 Description of track: GD continues singing 'Millers Song'
Track 5: Duration (min/sec): 1.54 Description of track: GD talks about his father who also sang this song; and his work
Track 6: Duration (min/sec): 4.06 Description of track: talks about frequent fighting and rows in Sheffield Street where he lived in Quarry Bank and gives incidents
Track 7: Duration (min/sec): 4.36 Description of track: continues as above and includes technicalities of chain making and people being paid for 'stints' of work
Track 8: Duration (min/sec): 1.45 Description of track: GD agrees there was neighbourliness; GD shows CP a document [volume low] and describes a chain made by a woman and the price she asked for it
Track 9: Duration (min/sec): 0.12 Description of track: [silent start to side 2]
Track 10: Duration (min/sec): 3.27 Description of track: GD returns to the document which was written by the woman who made the chain; talks about pricing of the chain and how much money the chain makers could make
Track 11: Duration (min/sec): 0.44 Description of track: describes that Sheffield Street would still be alight at 10pm with chain shops still working
Track 12: Duration (min/sec): 0.30 Description of track: Miss Mary MacArthur in London heard about severe and long working conditions and started a crusade and got the chain makers out demonstrating; from that time working conditions improved
Track 13: Duration (min/sec): 1.21 Description of track: GD not heard of phrase Saint Monday (CP describes workers in Burton on Trent taking the day as a holiday); chain making trade was very disorganised with long hours worked
Track 14: Duration (min/sec): 0.34 Description of track: the industry was a cottage industry with families working in their own workshops
Track 15: Duration (min/sec): 10.03 Description of track: CP tells example of a man in Bromsgrove who was put on the 'treadmill' as a punishment; GD describes the punishment in detail; GD not heard of the treadmill song
Total duration: (min/sec): 33.44 |
| Related Material | See also copy of recording on listening cassettes LC/BPL 16-21 George and Ernie Dunn of Quarry Bank, Staffordshire and see MS 4000/1/7/9 for newspaper cuttings and on George Dunn |
| Physical Description | Listening copy: 1 x CD-R serial number PF235 S108 3874
Original tape:
Size: 5" tape reel
Gauge: 1/4" tape (0.625cm)
Speed: 7.5ips (19cm/s);
EQ Curve used: IEC
Track configuration: Half Track Mono
Dubbing Date: 12/02
Notes: Volume fluctuates; side 2 only half filled |
| Access Status | Open |
| Language | English |