I’ve always liked Rudge’s logo, a hand, which I thought stood for hand-built (notice the hand-shaped spider in the crank at the bottom of the ad). Bob in North Wales, however, was kind enough to write and suggest that “the origin of the hand was the Red Hand of Ulster. This symbol was often adopted by families with a Northern Irish origin. For example, the area where I live used to be largely owned by the Myddletons of Chirk Castle that have this symbol as part of their arms. I know of four pubs in the area called The Hand Hotel that have this symbol on the pub sign (in the villages of Chirk, Llangollen, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog & Llanrhaedr ym Mochnant.)” This poster shows the many British-made parts used in a rudge. And notice the way the artist used shadows of the hand and the Rudge heading for dramatic effect (?).

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