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• Professional
The large, painted and often complex banners are generally produced
by a professional banner-making firm. Several South Wales Area National
Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Lodge banners were made by Co-operative Arts
Service in Leicester in the 1950s. The Cambrian Lodge banner for
example, was made in 1958 at a cost of £97.
Co-operative Arts Service banners were made out of heavy twill with a
machine finish to give the appearance of silk. The banners were silk
screen printed. Banners were also made from linen and painted. This was
a cheaper option and allowed the banner to be repainted frequently with
topical illustrations or wordings.
The banner makers Turtle & Pearce of London made the Oakdale Navigation
Lodge banner in 1961. It cost £150.
• Semi professional
Some of the NUM Lodge banners are good examples of semi professional
banners, where the actual banner was perhaps made by the wife of a
committee member and the image and slogan added to the banner by a
professional sign writer.
• Home made
These banners are very common. Artistic skills are not always
necessary as painted or sewn slogans on a square of cloth are a basic,
but highly effective banner – and they can be made by anyone. Many
campaign banners fall into his category where they are used for a brief
campaign and so the purchase of a more permanent banner is not
necessary. Banners made during the 1984/85 Miners’ Strike were often
home made.
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