An example of the work and mark of Albert Henry Thompson:
A/HT - Sheffield - 1889
Albert Henry Thompson entered his mark 'A/HT' contained within an inverted heart-shaped device, with the Sheffield Assay Office on the 31st January 1885.
BARBER, I. & J., Cutlery Manufacturers, Era Works, Wheeldon Street, Sheffield. Hours of Business: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Office; Factory varies. Established in 1804 by Isaac Barber and James Barber, for many years controlled by James Barber and afterwards by his son. Present Proprietors: Thos. Ellin & Co., Ltd., Sylvester Works, Sheffield; also own and work the businesses of James Barlow & Sons, G. Hides & Sons, John Shaw & Sons, and others. Specialities: Spring Knives, Table Cutlery, Razors, Scissors, Canteen and Cased Goods of every description. Trade Marks: " Era," " Excelsior," " Echo," " Secure," " Koh-i-Noor," " James Barber, Sheffield." Connection: United Kingdom, Foreign, Colonial. Telephone: No. 2593 Sheffield. Telegraphic Address: " Excelsior, Sheffield." Bankers: London City and Midland Bank, Ltd.
Source: Whitaker's Red Book of Commerce or Who's Who in Business - 1914
The shop of Mr. Kaminski, jeweller, Sheffield, was broken into on Thursday night, and goods to the value of £1,500 carried off. No clue of the robbery has yet been obtained by the police.
The Partnership between John Rowbotham, William Birks, Benjamin Withers, Joseph Withers, and John Wreaks, Silversmiths and Platers, in Sheffield in the County of York, was, by mutual Consent, dissolved on the 24th Day of June last. All Persons having any Demands on the said Copartners are desired to send their Accounts to Mr. Benjamin Withers, in Sheffield, and call for Payment; and all Persons Indebted to the said Copartners are requested to make Payment to the said Benjamin Withers without further Notice.
John Rowbotham.
Will. Birks.
Ben. Withers.
Joseph Withers.
John Wreaks.
Source: The London Gazette - 6th July 1776
John Rowbotham & Co. entered their marks, 'IR/Co', 'IR·Co', and 'IR&Co', with the Sheffield Assay Office on the 7th February 1774.
A bankrupt with nearly 12,000 debtors owing him money appeared before the Sheffield Official Receiver yesterday. He is Thomas C. Wilson (H. C. Dean and Co.), jeweller, and he supplied watches on the weekly payment system to customers in all parts of the country, who have not paid for them.
Source: Evening Express and Evening Mail - 7th July 1904
An example of the work and mark of W.J. Sears, 1911 coronation souvenir sugar-tongs:
A - W.J. SEARS/SHEFFIELD
This is likely to be William John Sears, 8, Fitzalan Square, Sheffield, who entered his mark, 'W.J.S', with the Sheffield Assay Office on the 9th September 1889.
Goods to the value of about £100 were stolen from the shop of a pawnbroker and jeweller named Fieldsend, at Darnall, Sheffield, during a storm at night.
Source: The Aberdare Leader - 28th November 1903
Perhaps to be identified with John Kirby Fieldsend, noted as a pawnbroker at Sheffield in 1884.
Whereas a Petition of William Beeston the elder, of Holly-lane, West-street, in Sheffield, in the county of York, Beer Reailer, Silversmith, and Electro-Plater, previously of West-street-lane, in Sheffield aforesaid, Silversmith and Electro-Plater, previously of Orange-street, and before then of West-street, both in Sheffield aforesaid, Journeyman Silversmith, and previously of No. 6, York-street, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Silversmith, an insolvent debtor, having been filed in the County Court of Yorkshire, at Sheffield, and an interim order for protection from process having been given to the said William Beeston the elder, under the provisions of the Statutes in that case made and provided, the said William Beeston the elder is hereby required to appear before the said Court, on the 3rd day of November next, at twelve o'clock at noon precisely, for his first examination touching his debts, estate, and effects, and to be further dealt with according to the provisions of the said Statutes; and the choice of the creditors' assignees is to take place at the time so appointed. All persons indebted to the said William Beeston the elder, or that have any of his effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to Messrs. William Wake and Thomas William Rogers, Registrars of the said Court, at the Office of the said County Court, in Bank-street, in Sheffield, the Official Assignees of the estate and effects of the said Insolvent.
175 Lord Street, Southport. Market Square, Hanley. 24, St. Ann's Square, Manchester
An example of the marks of Henry Pidduck & Sons:
PIDDUCK & SONS Ltd/HANLEY/AND SOUTHPORT
HP&S - Sheffield - 1935
Henry Pidduck & Sons - Manchester - 1879
Henry Pidduck & Sons - Hanley and Southport - 1947
Henry Pidduck & Sons were established at Hanley in 1841. Henry Pidduck was elected mayor of Hanley in 1864.
Henry Pidduck & Sons were the designers of the Blue Riband trophy, this is the award received by the ship with the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing. It was initiated in the 1860's, but only represented by the flying of a blue pennant by the holder. The award was commissioned in 1933 by Sir Harold Keates Hales (1868-1942), a British politician and owner of Hales Brothers shipping company. Hales commissioned the trophy to be designed by Henry Pidduck & Sons Ltd. The Hales Trophy is made of gilded solid silver, it stands nearly four feet in height, weighs nearly 100 pounds. The work was executed by James Dixon & Sons of Sheffield.
Henry Pidduck & Sons are still in business today, but now only trade from the Lord Street, Southport branch.
Henry Pidduck & Sons entered their mark ' H P & S' contained within a punch of four conjoined circles, with the Sheffield Assay Office.
Henry Pidduck & Sons entered their mark ' H P & S' contained within a punch with a triple rounded top, with the London Assay Office.
Dixon Works, Backfields, and Harmer Lane, Sheffield
John Mearbeck - Sheffield - 1879
Successor to George Newbould and Luke Booth and Sons.
The Bankruptcy Act, 1869. In the County Court of Yorkshire, holden at Sheffield. In the Matter of Proceedings for Liquidation by Arrangement or Composition with Creditors, instituted by John Mearbeck, residing at Broomfield Villa, and carrying on business at Dixon Works, Backfields, and Harmer-lane, all in the parish of Sheffield, in the county of York, Table Knife Manufacturer. Notice is hereby given, that a First General Meeting of the creditors of the above-named person has been summoned to be held at the offices of Messrs. Branson, Son, and Coombe, Solicitors, 9, Bank-street, in Sheffield aforesaid, on the 6th day of November, 1882, at three o'clock in the afternoon precisely.-Dated this 20th day of October, 1882.
BRANSON, SON, and COOMBE, 9, Bank-street, Sheffield, Solicitors for the said Debtor.
An exciting burglar hunt occurred at Sheffield this morning. An alarm was given that a jeweller 's premises, owned by J. Sermin, in Watson-walk, were in the possession of a gang of burglars. Two who were in the street watching effected an escape. The police after making a cordon about the place were a couple of hours searching. They captured one man concealed between the slates of the roof and the ceiling of the top storey. Confident that another marauder was concealed the fire brigade's services were requisitioned, the escape being brought to the scene. After a full hour it was concluded that the bird had flown. At about the same time another burglar was captured in another part of the city.
Source: Evening Express and Evening Mail - 8th August 1905
Joseph Sermin was born in 1846 in Neustadt, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, he married his wife, Maria Tritschler, who was also German, in 1880. In 1887 Joseph Sernin acquired the firm of Winterhalder & Quenett, who were initially established in 1814. The business had passed between several German families. Lawrence Shwerer was recorded at the address as a ‘German Watch Maker’ in 1822 and 1833. John Tritschler in 1852, John Brugger and Co. in 1862 and Winterhalder & Quenett by 1884.
Joseph Sermin died in 1914 and the business was succeeded by his sons, Albert (b.1883), Joseph jnr. (b.1887) and Victor (b.1897), and later styled J. Sermin & Sons.
The Watson's Walk premises were destroyed in the Sheffield Blitz on the 12th December 1940.
An example of the work and mark of John and Samuel Saynor:
I·S - Sheffield - 1811
John and Samuel Saynors entered their mark with the Sheffield Assay Office on the 24th December 1792:
Notice is hereby given, that the partnership lately subsisted between the undersigned John Saynor and Elizabeth Saynor, in the Trade of Business of Cutlers and Manufacturers of Cutlery Wares, carried on at Sheffield, in the County of York, in the firm of Samuel and John Saynor, was this day dissolved by mutual consent. - Dated this 16th Day of October 1810.
JOHN SAYNOR
ELIZABETH + SAYNOR
Mark of Administratix of Samuel Saynor, Deceased
Messrs. Atkinson Brothers, Limited, Milton Works, Sheffield, have received a very large order for cutlery from the Secretary of State for War. The order comprises 120,000 razors and cases, 75,000 sailors' clasp knives, 210,000 table knives, 170,000 table forks, 1,200 carving knives, and 1,000 carving forks.
Source: South Wales Echo - 10th January 1899
Atkinson Brothers Ltd. entered their mark, 'A/BROs/Ld', contained within a lozenge-shaped punch, with the Sheffield Assay Office on the 23rd August 1897:
Atkinson Brothers Ltd. entered their mark, 'A.BROs Ld', contained within a oblong punch with rounded ends, with the Sheffield Assay Office on the 7th June 1898:
