h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

They're wearing hair nets, so I guess it's something that either involves food, nothing that could tolerate a hair, or the machinery could catch hair and do some serious damage.

Not a clue.

It does look as if the machine is pressing something. I wondered whether they produced chocolate bars.

There don't seem to be any large amounts of input material - eg yarn, coils of wire or whatever - and I can't see any big piles of what could be finished product of any sort. This suggests that it is not a fast production/high turnover product, but something fairly small that takes a while to make. The machines look very substantial, and though they all have that round turny handle thing on top, I can't see anyone actually turning one.

I have no idea either. But I am thinking that there have been many factories in many places making many things over many years. Either we have to guess a one in 20,000 answer or, assuming we are all sporting people, there must be something special about this place, time or product.

It could be a first;first time the product was made? or first all female factory?

It could be something important happened at this factory, the first fully unionised workforce; the location of the first time and motion studies were undertaken?

Any help?

There's nothing earth-shattering about this particular factory - a history of industrial action, maybe, but that's it. I just found the picture and thought I'd see how far the QI regulars would get in identifying it.

You all seem to agree that the factory is in the UK, and that is correct.

Yes, they are making small items.

Yes, they are wearing clean hats and coats because they are preparing food.

Back to you...

is the raw material coming out of the machine???

are they making something like sugar/candy flowers

Mrs Miggins Pie Shop

Is it the Cadburys factory the week before Kraft took them over?

RF

They seem to be isolated machines, not assembly line, so I assume each girl does the entire process (that we can see). It's not simple, like wrapping chocolate bars, it's fairly intensive.

Still, no ideas though.

Is it the Cadburys factory the week after Kraft took them over?

Is it John Prescott's kitchen?

Iced gems?

(Can you still buy them? I recall being bribed to sit still at the hairdressers with a pack of iced gems...)

Of course you can still get iced gems!!!

And, er, is it the first ever Thornton's factory or something. Pear drops? Rhubarb and custards?

Is it those little silver balls used for cake decorations? "Only the human race could invent edible ball-bearings" as Dr Who once said. Um, apparently. According to a geeky friend of mine.

Something typically British?

Yes, very British

Bulls eyes? or is that totally off target

Bulls Eyes is closer than you'd think.

Is it that other bull's product that was banned from export during the BSE crisis?

RF