Museum Artefacts

Robert Owen set up labour exchanges where people could exchange goods that they had made. This printing plate was used to make Labour Notes, which were used in place of money, showing the number of hours of work involved. Owen created this printing plate for the National Equitable Labour Exchange Birmingham branch, which was established in 1833. The plate is decorative and includes two symbols that are often associated with the co-operative movement, a beehive, symbolising co-operation and a set of scales, symbolising fair weights and measures.