The Master Cutlers of Sheffield

[dognose]

The Master Cutler, Mr. C. H. Bingham, gave his accustomed ''banquet of the North'' on Thursday night, with the Premier, the Earl of Rosebery, as his chief guest. The following day the Master Cutler’s guests inspected the works of Messrs, Walker and Hall, silversmiths, electro-platers, and cutlers, Electro Works, Howard-street, Sheffield—of which the Master Cutler is a partner — Messrs. John Brown and Co., Atlas Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield, and Messrs. J. H. Andrew and Co., Toledo Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield. At the electro works, all the various delicate and beautiful processes associated with the production of silver plate, Britannia metal, and similar goods, were seen to great advantage in that large establishment, where upwards of 1000 men are employed. At the Toledo Steel Works, the production of steel for all the varied purposes used in the markets of the world was exhibited. Interest mainly centred in the visit to the Atlas Works. There the visitors saw the rolling of an armour plate for H.M.S, Magnificent, the finished dimensions of which were 15ft. by 6ft. 8in. by 14in., and the weight 25 tons. The process of chilling an armour-plate for the same ship was also shown, as well as the planing and slotting of armour-plates for H.M.S. Magnificent, Majestic, Powerful, and Terrible. In the armour press plates were forged for the Magnificent, one plate when forged weighing 27 tons. In the north machine shop the visitors inspected the turning and boring shaft for the Russian vessel Russia, and boring ammunition hoists for H.M.S. Powerful and Terrible. They were shown the boiler shop containing ten marine boilers, each 10ft. 6in. diameter by 10ft. 6in. long, fitted up with the ‘‘Ellis and Eaves” induced draught, capable of producing 8000 indicated horse-power without any smoke. The Master Cutler’s guests also inspected the Bessemer process, the hammering, finishing and rolling of steel tires for railway engines and carriages, the Serve tube department, the bending and welding of Purves patent ribbed flues for boilers, &c.

Source: The Engineer - 14th September 1894

Trev.

[dognose]

The Master Cutler. — Mr. Samuel Gray Richardson, cutlery manufacturer, has been elected Master Cutler of Sheffield. The cutlers' feast will take place on the 5th inst.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd September 1889

Trev.

[dognose]

The usual annual meeting of the Cutlers' Company for the purpose of electing the Master Cutler and of constituting the company for the ensuing year has just been held. As a result Mr. Samuel Gray Richardson, of the firm of Southern and Richardson, was unanimously elected Master Cutler. The Cutlers' Feast will be given on the first Thursday in September.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd September 1889

Trev.

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The Master Cutler has propounded a scheme for the establishment of a Chamber of Arbitration, in the carrying out of which he seeks the co-operation of the Cutlers' Company, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Town Council. The two former bodies have readily taken up the idea; but the Town Council, although they appointed the required committee, seem to have thrown a good deal of cold water on the proposal. Everyone admits that the object aimed at is a desirable one. There are a vast number of disputes relating to trade matters which could be far more easily settled by business men thoroughly acquainted with the technicalities of each case than by an ordinary legal tribunal. At least, so it would appear to the ordinary non-legal mind. Nevertheless, not a few prominent members of the Council are anything but sanguine as to the success of the scheme. "You cannot," they say in effect, " force people into arbitration if they prefer law." One legal member of the Council asserted — and he ought to know — that litigants as a class are most unreasonable and give their lawyers a great deal of trouble. He is by no means confident, therefore, that they would adopt the course which to outsiders would appear the best for them to take. It is probable, however, that the Chamber will ultimately be constituted, and it will be well, in the meantime, to await the result of its working.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd January 1893

Trev.

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The dinner and entertainment to the employes of the Master Cutler for the time being has now become as much a matter of course as the feast itself. It goes without saying, therefore, ihat Mr. C. F. Atkinson fully acted up to precedent in this respect. The dinner and ball came off on the Saturday following the feast, several of Mr. Atkinson's guests at that function also being present.

The firm of Atkinson Brothers, of which the Master Cutler is head, dates back io the year 1815, when it was started by the father and uncle of the present members. The location of the works at first was in Rockingham Street, where the business grew rapidly, and was subsequently further increased by the acquisition of the late Mr. Ebenezer Parker's business in Carver Street. It ultimately became necessary to move into larger premises, and the present works in Milton Street were specially built. Messrs. Atkinson Brothers also carry on business in Birmingham.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st December 1892

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