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[mab01uk]

Modern BMC Production at Longbridge (1950-59) - Pathé.
"Large industrial production line at British Motor Corporation showing the production of 'B' Series 1500 engine parts and their assembly. At the head of the line an operator clamps an engine block into a fixture that will automatically pass it from one machine to another as the engine is machined, drilled and bored to completion. Each step of the process is shown in great detail until the whole engine is completed and then the gearbox case is added. No detail is spared and there are natural sound effects for every moment of the operation."


Magic In Metal (1960-1969) - Pathe - Reel 3.
"A ladle of the molten iron is now poured into the crankcase mould. This is continued for all the prepared moulds that slowly move along a conveyor belt into a cooling area. The cooled moulds are then sand blasted to smooth the rough metal. This is done in a separate area, removes and hand finished with chisels and grindstones. After this "petaling" (sp) they are inspected and pressure tested with water.
It is then given a protective layer of paint and transported to the machine shop for final drilling and finishing. Lights of different colours flash. Drills and milling cutters. The crank shaft bearing studs are inserted. The block is again pressure tested. The top face is ground and the bores tested. The cylinder block is placed on a conveyor to the assemble section. Rods, crank shafts etc are now fitted by hand. The sump is added and the head and valves fitted. The gear box is bolted on and the finished engine is tested. Crane up over a room full of new engines. A new shiny Morris car drives towards us."

Edited by mab01uk, 03 March 2026 - 07:52 PM.

[PoolGuy]

Enjoyed those, thanks.

[Spider]

Many thanks !

 

The Transfer Machines were certainly a great machine and made for an efficient production line of the era, sadly too, it also bought BL / Rover undone in later years for anytime Product Development bought up the subject of a new engine, the first question from Management was " will it fit through our Transfer Machines? " If the answer was "no" then that's where those projects ended. They had no money or desire to up-grade to CNC Machining. I feel that instead of wasting the £35 million on the A+ Engine development, they would have done WAY better spending that on CNC machines.

It's also easy to see just how inaccuracies / variations occur in the manufacture of the components on the Transfer Machines.

 

It was also pointed out that development and manufacturing of the car's engine is one of the higher cost components of the car, but it was also one that also did little from a sales perspective, ie, if they spent £35 million on engine development, it wouldn't sell any additional cars, yet for £10 million in styling, paint and trim, it would (could) result in a 4 or 5 fold increase in sales.