Hoping my Brothers can help me out on this one. I saw an old ring at a flea market this weekend that was badly worn but I could make out what looked like a square and compass but instead of a ‘G’ in the center it looked like an arm from the elbow to the hand holding a hammer. Any ideas what that might be?

google “Independent Order of Mechanics”, yet another fraternity that borrowed Masonic symbols and practises.

When you’re this good it happens often.

That’s it. Thanks for the help! Glad I didn’t buy it.

O.U.A.M. there were both Sr. and Jr. orders, later the Jr. took over the Sr. and uses the S&C, shield with stripes and the arm and hammer inside the S&C.

One of our Lodges in the district actually rents space for meeting in the Mechanics Hall, with a big S & C with arm and hammer out front. I attended a degree there a year ago and it (this building) was very interesting in how much similarity in arrangements and design.

As well my own mother Lodge began meeting UD and received their charter and had bought a Mechanics Hall. The building was 75 years old in 1923 when they bought it. Eventually they built the building we currently occupy in 1968-69.

I was amazed at how familiar the symbolism I saw in the Mechanic Hall.