Difference between 人和 and 仁和 In Lao She's novel Rickshaw Boy, the protagonist works at place called "人和厂“.  To be very literal that is people's unity shop, in contrast to the protagonist's individualism.  But two thirds of the way through he notices the shop has changed its name to the homophone "仁和厂“ and "he wondered why that was."  .The new name could be rendered humane unity shop.

Would most people in China who are not thinking about this particular book say the two names mean about the same thing?  Is there a striking difference between them?  Or would the contrast be up to the author to describe?

Following Wang Dingwei's suggestion I see baike.baidu.com/view/581178.htm just says 天时地利人和 means "opportune" as the necessary time place and people come together.  It seems to me that 仁和 cannot share that meaning, but I am not sure.  

Commentators say that when Lao She wrote this novel he rejected his earlier support of Confucian ideals, which he now considered badly individualistic.  The novel also condemns capitalism as individualistic.   

Do 人和 and 仁和 relate to political slogans of the 1930s?
They are not quite the same.

人和 is a reference to 天时地利人和, where 和 means "harmony" rather than "unity". So it means "people in harmony".

仁和 is "humane and harmonious", both are good social and personal qualities.

The difference isn't that important if we take it out of context. They are all positive words that fit well for a company name. 



Update. In answer to your last question: No. 

The naming style is quite common in 1930s. It might serve as a sarcastic device -- A company bearing such a beautiful name are acting so evil. But even this would be an over-interpretation. Every company wants a good name. If I am writing a 1930s novel, no matter what I believe, I would use the same naming styles.