We really enjoyed this 1931 documentary on the industrial revolution by John Grierson. It covers a range of craftsmen and their work - from the potter William Davenport Cotton to the steel workers of the shipyards. If you desire a higher quality version of this film there is a DVD (which includes approximately 40 similar films from the era), entitled Land of Promise available from the BFI.
Footnote: Apologies for having to click on the link to get to the film, the embed code doesn't appear to work.
Image of Mr Grierson from here
