Hamer has written a broad, comparative overview of the evolution of British-derived urban traditions in four former colonies: the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

From small beginnings, trade unions developed leading to the birth of the United Trades and Labor Council in 1884, and to political action with the formation of the United Labor Party in 1891. This is a record of peaceful movements for reform, for the Chartist program and a wider democracy.

The annual collections in the History of Technology series look at the history of technological discovery and change, exploring the relationship of technology to other aspects of life and showing how technological development is affected by the society in which it occurred.