Arm and Hammer
I like unusual badges and signs, for example the Lamb and Flag, sometimes referred to as Agnus Dei, lamb of God. The picture here is of the Arm and Hammer sign on the side of Goldbeaters’ Hall in Manette Street, next to Foyles in Charing Cross Road. The building itself was the fictitious address of Dr Manette in Dickens’s Tale of Two Cities, resulting in the street being so-named. Goldbeaters produce gold leaf in the traditional manner, that is to say smashing ribbons of gold alloy (typically there is a little copper in the mix) with a cast iron hammer until it is a few thousandths of an inch thick. Hence the sign.
But the arm and hammer – not an especially common sign – is also an emblem of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, for obvious reasons. In recent centuries it has become a popular device of manufacturing trades unions and labour movements. There’s an interesting essay on the subject by Kim Munson, here. Lastly, you may be familiar with Arm and Hammer toothpaste, along with other domestic potions. A rather bizarre brand, I think, but there you go.
There are some excellent British Pathe film clips of gold-beating here and here (no sound). They give it serious welly.
Hi Mike – the house of Dr. Manette is now, I think, widely thought to be the House of St. Barnabas on the opposite side of the street, because it has the requisite garden and tree mentioned in the novel. The hammer itself is a reproduction, with the original proudly displayed in Dickens House http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosrusspix/4466499650/
Thanks Lee, I’ll have a better look around next time. May check the other one out when Dickens Museum re-opens and Dickens-mania has subsided a bit. That one is a far superior example than the one now on the building.
London’s Worshipful companies form an intriguing study and I am always fascinated to discover another of their halls. Many have long since abandoned their traditional activities and rebranded themselves as charitable organizations, offering their halls for hire for “events”. Others still practice their professions and hold exhibitions of their work and history. In a sense, they form the foundation of London’s industrial history and are right to be proud of their heritage.
It’s a massive and very interesting topic. Although they have their own hall, the Goldbeaters don’t appear to have their own company, I may be mistaken but I think they come under the Goldsmiths.
Thank you for mentioning my paper on the Arm & Hammer. I’ve been researching an extensive project on US union label history. I’ve spent a lot of time learning about the British halls since so many and most of the early labels are based on their heraldry.
You’re welcome, Kim. Glad you picked up on it. Your work sounds really interesting.