The banner of the Glasgow Cork-Cutters Society which was instituted in 1810. The banner bears the slogan "United to support but not combined to injure" against a field of thistles. It is made of blue silk mounted on a cotton background and measures 62 inches by 37 inches.
Cork cutters provided the stoppers required for beer, soft drinks and other bottled drinks, using cork oak imported from Spain and Portugal. Many large wine and spirit merchants and aerated water manufacturers manufactured cork closures including Andrew Greig Barr, the founder of A G Barr the company famous today as the maker of Barr's Irn Bru.
Reference: 44.87.351 / PP.1987.219.1
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
A G Barr, Barr's Irn Bru, bottled drinks, cork-cutters, corks, Glasgow Cork-cutters Society, trade union banners, trade unions