This Manchester 'factory gate' film has one mysterious addition...

This single roll of film interestingly starts with a brief tranquil shot, perhaps taken to test the camera and shooting conditions. The film proper is suitably spirited, unruly and full of human details, with the operator apparently encouraging interaction with the camera. But why is a bag being dangled above the workers? It seems to puzzle some of those present as much it does we viewers today.

Note: Crossley Brothers was founded by Francis and William (later Sir) Crossley at Great Marlborough Street, Manchester in 1866. In 1882 they moved to bigger premises in Pottery Lane, Openshaw, east Manchester. By 1869 they had acquired world (except German) rights to the patents of Otto and Langden of Cologne which included the Otto four-stroke cycle. Design began on a four-stroke cycle to the gas engine resulting in the introduction of a horizontal Crossley Otto gas engine. The Crossley name has not been used since 1998 but over 100,000 Crossley oil and gas engines have been built.