Blacksmiths, forge and smithy workers
Associated Blacksmiths', Forge and Smithy Workers' Society
Background information
This society was established on on 24 August 1857 as the Scottish United Operative Blacksmiths' Protective and Friendly Society. According to its printed rules, the successive names of the society were: the Associated Blacksmiths of Scotland (1873), the Associated Blacksmiths' Society (1885), the Associated Blacksmiths' and Iron Workers' Society (1909), the Associated Blacksmiths' and Iron Workers' Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1915), the Associated Blacksmiths', Forge and Smithy Workers' Society (1924). In 1912 and 1914 it absorbed the Blacksmiths' Union and the National United Society of Smiths and Hammermen.
Volumes marked 'general registration book', 1857-1905
(MSS.192/AB/83-84)
These are arranged in single membership number sequence, so ideally you need to know either the membership number or the year in which the member joined.
Volumes marked 'registration books - general office', 1857-1924 (MSS.192/AB/85-90)
The system of compilation of these volumes is not entirely clear so finding an individual member in them will probably not be straightfoward, and practically impossible if the branch is not known. Possibly in connection with the change of the society's name in 1909, new sequences of entry numbers were begun and entries were arranged by branch. Branches were entered by their number (although some of these did not remain the same) and when the the pages allotted to a branch were used up, entries were continued elsewhere in the book, or in one of the later books. The dates given in the volume descriptions in our catalogue are those of first admission of the members listed under each branch, but entries are not always in exact chronological order. Although there are admission dates from 1857 onwards, it is likely that these volumes list only those who were current or new members at the time when the lists were compiled, seemingly at various times from about 1909 onwards.
Monthly, quarterly and annual/financial reports, 1858-1961 (MSS.192/AB/23-80)
These include lists of deceased members and their wives, excluded members and admissions (from the report for 1884-1885 onwards until a date not yet determined), arranged by branch.
United Society of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers/Amalgmated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers
Background information
With effect from 1 October 1962, the Associated Blacksmiths', Forge and Smithy Workers' Society amalgamated with the United Society of Boilermakers, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers to form the United Society of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers, which from 1 October 1963 became the Amalgmated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers when the Shipconstructors' and Shipwrights' Association joined the amalgamation.
Monthly reports and detailed accounts of benefits received and names of deceased members and members' wives , 1962-1982 (MSS.192/BM/4/1/85a-4/2/6)
The monthly reports have lists of members and apprentices admitted, with abbreviations denoting the members' trades, arranged by branch. The detailed accounts are also arranged by branch and have separate listings for the Blacksmiths' Section. The lists of superannuated members give the dates of entering the society.
