Description:This is an advertisement for brass-makers working in Birmingham. Note that the building at the top of the image is still stands: the 'brass house' building on Broad Street (it is now a restaurant). The brass trade played a vital role in Birmingham's industrial growth. Its connection to the slave trade lies in the production of 'manilla'. These were trading tokens that often ended up being used in the purchase of slaves in Africa (see links). Below are some sources of nineteenth century local information which hint at this connection.
‘Birmingham Brass’
"What Manchester is in cotton, Bradford is in wool, and Sheffield in steel, Birmingham is in Brass; its articles of cabinet and general brass foundry are to be found in every part of the world; its gas fittings in every city and town into which gas has been introduced, from Indus to the Poles- on the railways of every country and on every sea, its locomotive and marine engine solid brass tubes generate the vapour which impels the locomotive over the iron road, and propels the steam-boat over the ocean wave- its yellow metal bolts, nails, and sheathing hold together and protect from decay “ wooden walls” of our own and other countries ships- its “Manillas,” once made in tons, and the circulating medium of the natives of the Gold Coast- and its rings and ornaments of brass, sent out in immense qualities, are the chief decorations of the belles on the banks of the distant Zambesi."
Local Studies and History (BCOL): W.C.Aitkin, “Brass and Brass Manufacturers.” Collected in Samuel Timmins (Ed.), "The Resources, Products and Industrial, History of Birmingham And The Midlands Hardware District" (London: Robert Hardwicke, 1866) p.229.
‘African Brass Wire Currency’
"A considerable quantity of the brass wire made in Birmingham finds its way to the Gold Coast, to Old Calabar, in the form of what are called “guinea rods,” one hundred of which, each three feet in length, of Nos. 4 and 5 gauge in thickness, packed up in deal cases, and being at their destination, sold in exchange for palm oil, &c., and are used as the “circulating medium” by the natives, and at the death of the possessor are interred with the body. An influential Birmingham merchant states the orders from that country frequently amount to from five to twenty tons each. Large numbers of rings made of solid brass wire, about seven-sixteenths thick and three and a quarter inches diameter, made of wire, are also sent to the Gold Coast." (Ibid., 319)
‘African Brass Wire Ornaments’
"In addition to the rings of brass wire, or of cast brass, very large quantities of Armlet and Anklet rings, made of tube, and varying in size from 2 ¾ up to 3 ½ and 4 inches internal diameter, are made in Birmingham, and sent out to Africa. These weigh from 2 ½ oz. up to 4 oz. each, are similar to cornice rings, but have no loop. Neither are they united at the junction with the shoulder, in order to admit of their being opened the more readily, to allow of their being placed on the arm and leg of the wearer These rings are ornamented by “milling tools,” finished by burnishing and lacquering, and are used by merchants on the Gold Coast for payments of debts and exchanges with the natives, who bring down palm oil and other natural products, receiving the rings in barter. These rings form the decorations of the natives, their number indicating the wealth and position of the wearer. Some idea will be gathered of the extent of Birmingham orders for this commodity from the fact that some three years ago one order executed in this town extended to 20,000 dozen, or 240,000 rings, 3 ½ inches in diameter, the weight of brass consumed in their manufacture amounting to nearly 23 ½ tons."(Ibid., 320-321)
'Manilla'
"[...]it will perhaps not be uninteresting to mention that many ton of Manilla money are annually cast in Birmingham. This is a species of ring money used in Africa and on Spanish settlements in Calabar. It was first made of alloy of copper and lead, and hardened with arsenic. Nearly thirty years ago the black mint master of the African tribe visited Birmingham to inspect the pieces. It is said that the degree of rank in this tribe is determined solely by the possession of these articles: those having the most being the wealthy members, and, as a consequence, have proportionate sway. Livingstone, Stanley, and other travellers tell us, that when about to penetrate into the interior of the dark continent, they had to provide themselves with cloth, beads, looking glasses, and brass wire, to be used as a medium of exchange with the natives, as much as would make good loads for 40 or 50 natives to carry. These things afterwards served the double purpose of personal finery and money. Orders for wire for this purpose amount to many tons a year. Rings or “Bangles” made of thick solid wir, or tube, or even cast, are also made here, and sent in large consignments for the adornment of African swells and belles. One order amounted to 20,000 dozen of rings, 3½ inches in diameter, weighing 23 tons."
W. J. Davis, “A Short History of the Brass Trade” (1892) p12. Local Studies and History: Birmingham ‘Aston Cross’, Volume 26.