Thearm and hammer is a symbol consisting of a musculararm holding ahammer. Used in ancient times as a symbol of the godVulcan, it came to be known as a symbol ofindustry, for exampleblacksmithing andgold-beating. It has been used as a symbol by many different kinds of organizations, including banks, local government, andsocialist political parties.
It has been used inheraldry, appearing in thecoat of arms of Birmingham andseal of Wisconsin.
TheArm & Hammer brand is a registered trademark ofChurch & Dwight, an American manufacturer of household products. According to the company, the logo originally represented Vulcan.[1]Oilman and philanthropistArmand Hammer, who was named after the symbol by his socialist father, eventually acquired a controlling interest and joined the board of directors due to his name. He remained an owner until his death in 1990.[2]
An arm-and-hammer sign can be seen inManette Street,Soho, symbolizing the trade of gold-beating carried on there in the nineteenth century. It is referred to by Charles Dickens inA Tale of Two Cities.[3] As of 2016, the sign there is a replica, with the original being held in theDickens Museum.[4]
One of the oldest visualizations of arm and hammer can be found onSvetitskhoveli Cathedral. It was completed in 1029 by the medieval Georgian architectArsukidze, although the site itself dates back to the early fourth century.
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Media related toArms with hammer in heraldry at Wikimedia Commons