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News imageWitness History, Witness History, Bata the Shoemaker's Revolution

Witness History

Witness History

Bata the Shoemaker's Revolution


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19 June 2018

9 minutes

Available for over a year

Bata was a Czech company which pioneered assembly line shoemaking and sold affordable footwear around the world. Its factory near London became key to its expansion. Dina Newman speaks to one of its senior engineers, Mick Pinion, about the company's remarkable history and how it shod millions in Africa and Asia.

Photo: Bata factory in East Tilbury near London. Credit: Bata Heritage Centre.

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