Catalogue Number
NMLH.1990.25.5
Object Name
Banner
Title
'Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Smiths, and Pattern Makers. Manchester District. Be united and industrious.'
Place
Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
People
James Sharples, 'Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Smiths, and Pattern Makers
Date
pre-1920
Description
Based on James Sharples' 1852 emblem design of 1852 for the Amalgamated Society Of Engineers emblem membership certificate.
The imagery on both sides of this banner, including the ASE emblem, is taken from work done by forge smith and proud union member James Sharples in the 1840s and 1850s. The reverse is based on Sharples' famous engraving 'The Forge'. Sharples designed the ASE emblem in 1852.
Several engineering unions combined to form the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) in 1851. Their main aims were to abolish compulsory overtime and get rid of piecework (work paid for by the quantity produced rather than the time taken). The ASE took a leading role in setting up the General Federation of Trade Unions in 1899. The major reason for doing this was to set up a national organisation with a strike fund that could be drawn on in times of need. The ASE also campaigned for all engineering unions to combine, which led to the formation of the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) in 1920.
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