Catalogue Number
NBS I/D 340
Object Name
banner
Title
NATIONAL UNION OF RAILWAYMEN SMITHFIELD BRANCH
Place
Smithfield & London & England & UK
Creator(s)NBS National Museum of Labour HistoryNBS National Museum of Labour HistoryGeorge Tutill & Co. (Manufacturer)
Description
This double-sided banner was made around 1925 for the Smithfield Branch of the National Union of Railwaymen. The National Union of Railwaymen formed in 1913 and were instumental to improving working conditions and wages during World War I; between the Wars, they focused on transport policy and the nationalisation of the transport industry.
The faceside of this banner shows an outside scene of a railway station, with four roundels depicting various workers. The reverse shows a robed lady, representing 'Light', 'Education', 'Industrial Organisation', 'Political Action' and the 'Real International' directing workers to the benefits of a Co-Operative Commonwealth depicted by a May-pole. Below the image is the quote from the Communist Manifesto, 'Workers of the World unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains, you have a world to win'
The banner was made by well-known banner company Tutill's, who often took inspiration from Crane's work.
Materials: Ground of single layer blue silk rep, bordered with red polyester. Rep is a ribbed or corded fabric. Fringe of golden beige rayon and polyester. Rayon was one of the earliest manmade textile fibres, first produced in 1889. Machine sewn on construction with oil painted images on each side.
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