National Union of Sheet Metal Workers and Coppersmiths (London District) and predecessors

This material is held atModern Records Centre, University of Warwick

Scope and Content

Minutes, 1880-1958; Minutes of general meetings, 1880-1966; balance sheets, 1886-98 (incomplete); miscellaneous file, 1881-1900; price list, 1900; rules of Jewish branch, 1901.

London Operative Gas Meter Makers' Association: rules, 1882.

Zinc and Copper Roofers' and General Sheet Metal Workers' Society: annual returns and balance sheets, 1917-20.

London Operative Zinc Workers' Society: rules, 1900.

Administrative / Biographical History

The London Operative Tin-Plate Workers' Trade Society was formed in 1805. In 1875 it amalgamated with the London Co-operative Tin-Plate Workers' Trade Society to form the Amalgamated Society of Tin-Plate Workers, London. In 1889 this amalgamated with the London Operative Gas Meter Makers' Association (founded in 1861) to form the Amalgamated Society of Tin and Iron-Plate Workers and Gas Meter Makers, London. In 1901 this in turn merged with the East London Society of Tin and Iron Plate Workers to form the London Society of Sheet Metal Workers, Braziers and Gas Meter Makers. In 1920 it joined with other local unions affiliated to the National Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers and Braziers (to which it had been affiliated since 1889) to form the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers and Braziers, which was renamed the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers and Coppersmiths on its amalgamation with the National Society of Coppersmiths, Braziers and Metalworkers in 1959.

The London Operative Zinc and Galvanised Iron Workers' Society was founded in 1853, changing its name to the London Operative Zinc Workers' Society in 1873 and the Zinc and Copper Roofers' and General Sheet Metal Workers' Society in about 1913. In 1918 it joined the London Society of Sheet Metal Workers, Braziers and Gas Meter Makers.

Reference: Ted Brake, Men of Good Character: A history of the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers, Coppersmiths, Heating and Domestic Engineers( Lawrence and Wishart: London, 1985).

Arrangement

The records form part of the archive of Manufacturing, Science, Finance (MSS.101) and within that are a constitutent of the archive of the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers, Coppersmiths, Heating and Domestic Engineers (MSS.101/SM).

Access Information

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Acquisition Information

This archive was transferred to the Modern Records Centre from the National Museum of Labour History in October 1989 and April 1990.

Other Finding Aids

Link to full catalogue: http://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/NMW

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this archive, apart from the requirements of copyright law.

Appraisal Information

This collection has been weeded for duplicates.

Accruals

Further deposits are not expected.

Related Material

The records of the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers, Coppersmiths, Heating and Domestic Engineers and many of its other predecessors are also held at the Modern Records Centre (MSS.101/SM). These include the records of the London Co-operative Tin-Plate Workers' Trade Society and the London Operative Tin-Plate Workers' Pension Society (MSS.101/SM/LOC) and the Amalgamated Tin-Plate Workers' Pension Society, London (MSS.101/SM/APS).