View source for Craftsmen at Work (lost early BBC documentary show; 1938, 1946)

{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Craftsmen at Work</center>
|image=Craftsmenatwork1.jpg
|imagecaption=George Burchett tattooing a woman in the first episode.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
'''''Craftsmen at Work''''' is an early BBC documentary television series. Airing in six parts throughout 1938, and for a short revival in 1946, the show provided practical demonstrations of how crafting jobs were performed, including tattooing and production of cricket bats.

==Background==
The show's presenter was S. P. B. Mais, a prominent British journalist and broadcaster. According to an obituary published in the 24th April 1975 edition of ''The Times'', Mais proved popular for his documentaries and informal style of presentation.<ref>24th April 1975 edition of ''The Times'' providing an obituary of S. P. B. Mais. Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> ''Craftsmen at Work'''s first episode was broadcast on 26th January 1938, where George Burchett was filmed tattooing a woman inside the Alexandra Palace television studio.<ref name="science">[https://ssplprints.com/image/112101/sayers-tattooist-at-work-in-a-television-studio-1938 ''Science & Society'' providing a photo of ''Craftsmen at Work'' and a description of it.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="genome1">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1938-01-26#at-15.10 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the tattooing episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="radio1">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/aa93529a98544ba8ad3ab39625347282 Issue 747 of ''Radio Times'' listing the tattooing episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> As with most shows of the era, this presentation was repeated later in the evening,<ref name="genome1"/><ref name="radio1"/> with new episodes airing roughly on a fortnightly basis. The second episode, airing on 7th February 1938, examined the production of country pottery, with W. C. Waller demonstrating this craft.<ref name="genome2">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1938-02-07#at-21.25 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the country pottery episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="radio2">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/63e509c57a1e4215b99e5ad2c8c44a0a Issue 749 of ''Radio Times'' listing the country pottery episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> 

Following this, whisket-making was showcased on 23rd February, with John Brown detailing how he crafted the straw baskets.<ref name="genome3">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1938-02-23#at-15.00 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the whisket episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="radio3">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/d8756de00a9441bb8a3916613a74c85a Issue 751 of ''Radio Times'' listing the whisket episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> Blacksmith brothers Fred and Stanley Bish were next to appear, presenting the iron work involved in their craft, which was broadcast on 9th March.<ref name="genome4">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1938-03-09#at-15.10 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the blacksmith episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="radio4">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/3178fc21c70e4aecaf7a013b4cc974a1 Issue 753 of ''Radio Times'' listing the blacksmith episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> An unknown individual then detailed the production of cricket bats on the 23rd March edition of the show.<ref name="genome5">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1938-03-23#at-15.20 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the cricket bat episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="radio5">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/37ec86b5a8234107890b859aa45a99f6 Issue 755 of ''Radio Times'' listing the cricket bat episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> Horace Gooding concluded the series on 6th April by detailing how the ancient craft of slatting Cotswold stone was performed.<ref name="genome6">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1938-04-06#at-15.10 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the slatter episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="radio6">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/9215eb2e60e746a99138b41836bd45fd Issue 757 of ''Radio Times'' listing the slatter episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref>

Despite no additional episodes being aired prior to the start of the Second World War, ''Craftsmen at Work'' would actually make a return in 1946.<ref name="genome7">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1946-08-14#at-21.00 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the wood working episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="radio7">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/c561d443ef91480d9817199d6a352fb4 Issue 1193 of ''Radio Times'' listing the wood working episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> The episodes would have different presenters, including A. Miller Jones and J. G. Links.<ref name="genome7"/><ref name="radio7"/><ref name="genome8">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1946-09-09#at-21.15 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the mink coat episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="radio8">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/85951d547f974e289d8fdf98e56085cd Issue 1197 of ''Radio Times'' listing the mink coat episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="genome9">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1946-11-05#at-21.05 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the lithography episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref><ref name="radio9">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/e0e96580119148949066bb44307cedd7 Issue 1205 of ''Radio Times'' listing the lithography episode.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> However, Mais would make an appearance in the first episode, broadcast on 14th August.<ref name="genome7"/><ref name="radio7"/> In it, he, alongside Hubert Foss and Rex Wailes, detailed wood working.<ref name="genome7"/><ref name="radio7"/> Following this, Links would describe the process of making mink coats on the 9th September edition of the show.<ref name="genome8"/><ref name="radio8"/> ''Craftsmen at Work'' fully concluded on 5th November 1946, with Thomas E. Griffits demonstrating lithography.<ref name="genome9"/><ref name="radio9"/> While the show may have ended, the BBC were still interested in broadcasting additional craft demonstrations. This included a presentation on the production of chairs, broadcast on 27th October 1947 and presented by Jones.<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1947-10-27#at-21.25 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing ''What's in a Chair?''.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> The show's spiritual successor was likely ''Made by Hand'', another show demonstrating the practices of various craftsmen, which ran for ten episodes from October 1949 to April 1950.<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1950-04-06#at-22.00 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the stained glass episode of ''Made by Hand''.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref>

==Availability==
Like all early television transmissions, all episodes of ''Craftsmen at Work'' were televised live and there were limited viable means of recording television prior to and soon after the Second World War, with recording seldom having occurred until video tape was perfected in the late-1950s.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/BbcTelevisionReceivedInNewYork-1938 ''Web Archive'' article discussing how most early television is missing due to a lack of direct recording of television.] Retrieved 29th Jan '22</ref> Thus, all footage from the demonstrations is likely permanently missing. Nevertheless, a photo of Burchett tattooing a woman inside the studio was taken for the ''Daily Herald'' newspaper, and remains publicly viewable.<ref name="science"/> Additionally, ''Radio Times'' issues helped to document the broadcasts from both pre- and post-Second World War.<ref name="radio1"/><ref name="radio2"/><ref name="radio3"/><ref name="radio4"/><ref name="radio5"/><ref name="radio6"/><ref name="radio7"/><ref name="radio8"/><ref name="radio9"/>

==Gallery==
===Images===
<gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
Craftsmenatwork2.jpg|Issue 747 of ''Radio Times'' detailing the tattooing episode.
Craftsmenatwork3.jpg|Issue 749 of ''Radio Times'' detailing the country pottery episode.
Craftsmenatwork4.jpg|Issue 751 of ''Radio Times'' detailing the whisket episode.
Craftsmenatwork5.jpg|Issue 753 of ''Radio Times'' detailing the blacksmith episode.
Craftsmenatwork6.jpg|Issue 755 of ''Radio Times'' detailing the cricket bat episode.
Craftsmenatwork7.jpg|Issue 757 of ''Radio Times'' detailing the slatter episode.
Craftsmenatwork8.jpg|Issue 1193 of ''Radio Times'' detailing the woodworking episode.
Craftsmenatwork9.jpg|Issue 1197 of ''Radio Times'' detailing the mink coat episode.
Craftsmenatwork10.jpg|Issue 1205 of ''Radio Times'' detailing the lithography episode.
</gallery>

==See Also==
===Early BBC Television===
*[[Alexandra Palace's wartime television demonstrations (lost footage of private television transmissions; 1943, 1945)]]
*[[An Inspector Calls (lost television adaptation of play; 1948)]]
*[[Ann and Harold (lost early BBC drama television series; 1938)]]
*[[BBC Election Night (lost coverage of British general elections; 1950-1951)]]
*[[The Care of Your Car (lost early BBC motoring show; 1947)]]
*[[Cook's Night Out (lost early BBC cooking show; 1937)]]
*[[Dish of the Month (lost early BBC cooking show; 1937)]]
*[[First Aid (lost early BBC medical show; 1937)]]
*[[Foundations of Cookery (lost early BBC cooking show; 1939)]]
*[[Marcel Boulestin television shorts (lost early BBC programs; 1937-1939)]]
*[[Masks through the Ages (lost early BBC history talk show; 1937)]]
*[[Opening of the BBC Television Service (partially found coverage of inaugural day of high-definition television service; 1936)]]
*[[The Orchestra and its Instruments (lost early BBC music talk show; 1937)]]
*[[RCA recording of BBC Television Service (found footage of pre-Second World War BBC television broadcast; 1938)]]
*[[Sea Stories (lost early BBC talk show; 1936-1937)]]
*[[Spelling Bee (lost early BBC game show; 1938)]]
*[[Telecrime (lost early BBC crime drama; 1938-1939; 1946)]]
*[[The Wasp's Nest (lost early BBC television adaptation of Agatha Christie short story; 1937)]]
*[[Weaponless Self-Defence (lost early ju-jitsu television program; 1936-1937)]]
*[[The World of Women (lost early BBC talk show; 1937)]]

===Early BBC Sports Television===
*[[1931 Epsom Derby (lost televised footage of horse racing event; 1931)]]
*[[1937 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1937)]]
*[[1937 International Imperial Trophy Race (lost footage of motor race; 1937)]]
*[[1937 Wimbledon Championships (partially found footage of tennis tournament; 1937)]]
*[[1938 Ashes Series (partially found footage of international test cricket match; 1938)]]
*[[1938 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1938)]]
*[[1939 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1939)]]
*[[1947 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1947)]]
*[[1953 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One race; 1953)]]
*[[1955 Scottish Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1955)]]
*[[Archery (lost early televised toxophily; 1937-1938)]]
*[[Arsenal 7-1 Hibernian (lost footage of charity football match; 1952)]]
*[[Arsenal vs Arsenal Reserves (lost footage of early BBC televised football match; 1937)]]
*[[Barnet 3-2 Wealdstone (lost footage of Athenian League football match; 1946)]]
*[[The Boat Race 1938 (partially found footage of rowing race; 1938)]]
*[[Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling (lost early BBC televised professional wrestling matches; 1938-1939; 1946-1947)]]
*[[Charlton Athletic 1-0 Blackburn Rovers (lost footage of FA Cup match; 1947)]]
*[[Darts and Shove Ha'penny (lost early BBC televised darts matches; 1936-1939)]]
*[[England 0-1 Scotland (partially found international football match; 1938)]]
*[[England 1-1 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)]]
*[[England 16-21 Scotland (partially found footage of rugby match; 1938)]]
*[[England 3-0 France (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)]]
*[[England 3-0 Rest of Europe (partially found footage of international football match; 1938)]]
*[[Falkirk 3-2 Newcastle United (lost footage of football match; 1953)]]
*[[Horace Lindrum vs Willie Smith (lost footage of televised snooker; 1937)]]
*[[Scottish Universities 1-1 English Universities (lost footage of international football match; 1952)]]
*[[Woods and Jack (lost early televised lawn bowls; 1937; 1946)]]

==External Link==
*[https://imdb.com/title/tt4177676/?ref_=tt_ov_inf IMDB page for ''Craftsmen at Work''.]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]
[[Category:Historic]]