In Chapter 2 (‘The Emblem within the Emblem’), the certificate of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Millwrights, Smiths and Pattern Makers by James Sharples (1852, Plate 45) was discussed. In this chapter, the various sources that influenced his design are considered, notably the crepidoma or ziggurat, together with the way in which this format came to exert a great influence over later designers of union emblems and certificates for more than half a century.

On 20 August 1834, 14 boilermakers met in Manchester with the intent of founding an Order of Friendly Boiler Makers and in October of that year a branch was established in Bolton with four present at its inaugural meeting. A General Council was formed in 1835 of 14 members with Abraham Hughes as the first Chairman, and William Hughes of Manchester the first General Secretary. To William Hughes was entrusted the task of forging the new union's identity. According to Mortimer's account of the society's history, William Hughes ‘arranged for the design of the new emblem’ in addition to which he drew up a book of rules, a hymn and a prayer for lodge meetings, an oath of allegiance, an opening ceremony and lectures for new, prospective members that stressed brotherhood and unity and described the functions of the branch officers. David and Jonathan were held up as examples of brotherhood, as Jonathan had saved David's life by notifying him of Saul's jealousy and evil intent.