Small Arms Company

1917

In this striking photograph taken during the First World War, rows of women work diligently at belt-driven lathes in the Small Arms Company factory in Birmingham. With so many men conscripted to the front lines, thousands of women stepped into critical roles in munitions and arms production across Britain.

The scene is a marvel of early industrial organisation—long corridors of humming machines, overhead pulleys, and determined expressions. These women were vital to the war effort, producing rifles, pistols, and other equipment used on the battlefields of Europe.

The number plate “3801–4000” hints at a regimented system of production and employee tracking. Above all, this photo captures a transformational moment: not only in warfare and manufacturing but also in gender roles in the workplace.

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