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Stamping die from Jewellery quarter

mikejee

Super Moderator
Staff member
Rescued this from a factory in the Jewellery quarter around the early 1970s, during demolition. For a while I used it as a doorstop (if there were two of them connected to a rod then it would make good practice for a weightlifter). Came across it again today at the back of my garage. Obviously, being a die, it is reversed, so also show reversed photo. It can be seen that it is for production of some item for the Provincial Grand Superintendent of the Grand Council of Knight Masons. This apparently was an Irish organization which, as did so many similar, relied on Birmingham to produce its regalia

stamping die from jewellery quarterA.jpgstamping die from jewellery quarter-reversed photoA.jpg
 
Rescued this from a factory in the Jewellery quarter around the early 1970s, during demolition. For a while I used it as a doorstop (if there were two of them connected to a rod then it would make good practice for a weightlifter). Came across it again today at the back of my garage. Obviously, being a die, it is reversed, so also show reversed photo. It can be seen that it is for production of some item for the Provincial Grand Superintendent of the Grand Council of Knight Masons. This apparently was an Irish organization which, as did so many similar, relied on Birmingham to produce its regalia

View attachment 144986View attachment 144987
That is an interesting little item and worth saving.
I have a 36 page catalogue of Charles Usher company, Vittoria Street, who specialised in jewels, badges, medals and regalia for the Royal Ancient Order of Buffalos, see illustrations attached.
Have no personal interest in the company or its products, but bought the catalogue because I thought it should come back to Birmingham, as it is a valuable piece of Birmingham history.
Boomy.
 

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This has reminded me of my 3x Great Grandfather William Davenport b.1769.
He was a die sinker but he used his profession and ‘skill’ to produce counterfeit coins including Sovereigns,half Sovereigns and other coins.
He was convicted in 1829 and was on the Prison ship Cumberland.
I believe his family all pleaded with the Crown for his release but he died June 1832 on the Prison ship Dolphin ,moored at Chatham.2D9ED6F2-52BB-432D-9B57-91AD3B705993.jpeg
 
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