Employees Leaving Crossley's Works, Openshaw (1900)

This Manchester 'factory gate' film has one mysterious addition...

This single roll of film interestingly starts with a brief tranquil shot, perhaps taken to test the camera and shooting conditions. The film proper is suitably spirited, unruly and full of human details, with the operator apparently encouraging interaction with the camera. But why is a bag being dangled above the workers? It seems to puzzle some of those present as much it does we viewers today.