---
title: Front lines of labor help win the war
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/front-lines-of-labor-help-win-the-war-1943/
description: Nine-photograph sheet of women at work in war plants (spark plugs, parachute flare casings, aircraft parts, a star insignia), each with a one-line caption.
section: Collection
---

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[![Front lines of labor help win the war, 1943 US poster: Nine-photograph sheet of women at work in war plants](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/front-lines-of-labor-help-win-the-war-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/front-lines-of-labor-help-win-the-war-1943.jpg)

# Front lines of labor help win the war

Nine-photograph sheet of women at work in war plants (spark plugs, parachute flare casings, aircraft parts, a star insignia), each with a one-line caption. The plain-folks and transfer tells: ordinary workers are called a 'competent girl' and 'modern Betsy Rosses', borrowing the flag-maker's prestige for factory work.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/) [Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
WOMEN'S BUREAU
[seal:] DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FRONT LINES OF LABOR HELP WIN THE WAR

MAKING SMALL PARTS OF GREAT ENGINES FOR MODERN WARFARE

AVIATION SPARK PLUGS—VITAL LITTLE PIECES

A COMPETENT GIRL DOING AN IMPORTANT JOB FOR A WHIRLWIND ENGINE

THEIR PEACETIME SKILL ON TOY TRAINS IS NOW USED ON PARACHUTE FLARE CASINGS

FROM SAFETY RAZORS TO "V" BLOCKS

CHECKING, CHECKING. FLYERS' LIVES DEPEND ON IT

DESIRE TO WORK IS DEEP-ROOTED IN WOMEN'S PATRIOTISM

MODERN BETSY ROSSES WORK ON UNCLE SAM'S SYMBOL OF DEMOCRACY

LOOK AHEAD, AMERICA. U. S. WINGS OF VICTORY CIRCLE THE GLOBE

[imprint:] For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C., Price 10 cents
[imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1943 O - 4[illegible]9090
```

Small lettering on objects inside the photographs is not transcribed.

[← From Waste Paper into War Weapons: Save all waste paper!](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/from-waste-paper-into-war-weapons-1943/) [Geared to Victory →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/geared-to-victory-printing-education-week-1943/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
