Fruit Knife Help!

[George21]

Hi all,

Just dropping by to see if you can help me.

I have used your website to identify a couple of makers and areas but I'm having a hard time getting a date. Could you help?

The first is a Sheffield Fruit Knife. Maker W.N. or William Needham as discovered on this website. Letter: 1/I

Link: http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8457/dscn1112w.jpg

The second is another Sheffield Fruit Knife. Maker JYC or John Yeoman Cowlishaw. Unfortunately this maker I could not locate on the website. Letter "y"

Link: http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/793/dscn1131.jpg

Unfortunately on both accounts I cannot find an accurate date stamp. The first looks like a "1" and the second is an italic "Y" whereas all the ones I can find are regular vertical "Y"'s.

Also, curiously enough, engraved on the second JYC knife is a marking which reads "1749 AL" - I do not believe this knife is that old but just wondering what you make of that?

Thanks in advance guys!

George

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[Granmaa]

Your first knife was made in 1928, and the second, 1941.

Your guess is as good as mine regarding the meaning of the engraved date.

Miles

[George21]

Beautiful, thank you! Done me a huge favour.

I forgot to include images of the whole blades, my apologies. So for those that are interested:


The JYC piece: http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9596/dscn1126.jpg

The WN piece: http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5260/dscn1115f.jpg

Thanks again!

[MCB]

Hello George,
For information if you look again you'll find the WN mark on the knife isn't quite the same as the one on the forum's Sheffield menu. This has no pellet (dot) between the initials whereas the one on the 1928 knife does. These subtle differences can often be important in correctly identifying the person putting an item to assay. Happily the one on the knife is shown in the published Sheffield Registration book covering the period 1773-1907 as registered by William Needham in 1891. The one on the forum's menu is presumably a later alteration attributed to him.
J Y Cowlishaw registered the mark on the other knife in 1854. It's unlikely he made your knife in 1941; more likely successors to his trading firm who continued to use his original mark. J G Crowther t/a Cowlishaw & Bell of Sheffield registered the same JYC mark at the Chester Assay Office in 1906 but as I have no further information perhaps someone else can give you the later history of the firm and a clearer identification who put the item to assay.
Mike

[George21]

Thanks for the information, Mike.

Does this change the dates then? Is the William Needham one stil 1928 and the JYC one still 1941?

Thanks again, I hadn't noticed the missing pellet!

George

[MCB]

Hello George,

Needham's knife is 1928 and the one by the successors of Cowlishaw 1941.

Mike