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J N O .Blyde Sheffield cutler


Adrian Cook

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Hi there. Just brought another knife and finding it difficult to find out anything about the cutler except this knife was supposed to be made in 1927.it has mother of pearl bolsters a hall marked silver Wharncliffe blade and 4other blades made of hand forged steel .The rear of the spring has pattern work on it.could any one help please with more info Thankful in advance.adrian

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JOHN BLYDE

Sheffield Indexers have a 1905 Directory entry;

Blyde, John (, pen. pocket & table knives,scissors,razor manufts.).
     Address: Clintock Works 24 Milton Street, in 1905.
     Recorded in: White's Directory of Sheffield and Rotherham.

 I have also found this on the net:

John Blyde, Clintock Works, Sheffield.

blyde_1a.jpg

blyde_logo_1.jpgA foundation date of 1841 is recorded in the trade literature for this company. John Blyde(1827-1899), a Sheffield-born scissor and surgical instrument manufacturer, was working at Norfolk Street Works, Norfolk Lane, in 1862. Ha may have been the son of James Blyde. By the 1870s, the address was Burgess Street, with John Blyde advertising surgical instruments, scissors, and trusses. The firm employed 27 workers in 1871.
By 1883, the business had moved to Clintock Works, Milton Street. In directories in the 1880s, Blyde was described as a "Manufacturer of Fine Scissors, Pen, Pocket, and Table Knives; Razors, Horse Scrapes, Clipping Scissors, Singeing Lamps".
John Blyde died "very suddenly" on 15 December 1899, aged 72. He was a Wesleyan Methodist. John Blyde's son, Arthur John Blyde(1857-19200, continued the business. According to local chronicler Henry Tatton, John Blyde's son, James, was remembered as the first man in Sheffield to drive a motor car.blyde_logo_2.jpg
In 20th century, the business switched almost entirely to hand-forged surgical scissors. When A.J. Blyde died in 1920, his successors adopted limited liability and also took over Greenhough. The corporate mark was a picture of Saturn above the word "Genius", which was used on scissors and cutlery; and a picture of a golfer above the words, "Sure & Far", which was used on pen and pocket knives. A profile in Quality(March 1957) stated that it was the last surgical scissor house that could hand forge scissor of any description. In the 1970s, Blyde's was wound up.


blyde_ad_1.jpg

 

Hope this helps, John

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John thank you so much.This is the information I have been looking for..The existence of this Webb site Sheffield history is so beneficial  to me and many more people. Ki

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Sorry for the delay on getting back to you.Have a new phone and have just sorted how to get close up photo,s.

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The silver blade plus everything else on this cracking knife apart from the steel blades was made by E W O & Co Ltd, still got to find out just who they were. Here's a late 17th century cup made of Lignum Vitae but the silver rim was made by the same maker.

 

 

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Thanks so much tozzin .I've tried in vain to find out more and haven't had much luck.ime very great full for your knowledge and am looking forward to see if you are able to find out some more info.? Cheers.

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Oh ,the antique shop I bought it from marked it up as 1927.but they could be wrong.but the steel blades seem a lot older than 1952 tozzin.?

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16 minutes ago, Adrian Cook said:

Oh ,the antique shop I bought it from marked it up as 1927.but they could be wrong.but the steel blades seem a lot older than 1952 tozzin.?

I have had a closer look, yes your dealer was right, what threw me was the lozenge the letters in is more like the 1952 mark, but I should have looked closer. I worked at a firm that was using blades up to thirty years after they were forged.

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Just found this on the net tozzin which sort of confirms your research .thanks again ?

 

 

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So .John and tozzin do you think this knife is a combination fruit knife and the steel blades for other daily chores?.

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10 hours ago, Adrian Cook said:

So .John and tozzin do you think this knife is a combination fruit knife and the steel blades for other daily chores?.

It certainly is, the acid in fruit would corrode steel blades but it doesn't corrode silver, as Michael Caine may have said " not a lot of people know that"

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Cheers tozzin.i will have another Sheffield knife in a few days to show.all the best for now ?

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Hello. I was  interested in the "Blydes" and came across this post, one of several posts relating these Sheffield makers. I have an electroplate mark on a spoon I want to add somewhere when I work out which "Blyde" it belongs to. I was looking at the Sheffield Indexers" and came to "Blyde Jno". I have seen the "Jno" with other names. What Christian name do we think it represents? Is it "Jonathon"? Or is it what they can see from the origional record? I was trying to get a date order of the Blydes. "Jno" was about 50 years earlier than "Adrian's" great penknife. 

We can positively date the knife blade to 1927, as that lower case "k" tells us that. It is not 1952 as which has an upper case "K". 1902 had a lower case "k" but it was in "fancy style" that my lap top does not know how to reproduce. That was a smart bit of work Adrian to find E.W.Oakes. Is it acceptable if I pass your hallmark image on further to be confirmed and likely recorded on line for the world to know (if they care to search)?

Kalfred

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Jno is the standard abbreviation for John - similar to Wm for William, Jas for James, Jos for Joseph, Tho for Thomas, Robt for Robert, Benj for Benjamin, Geo for George etc

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Yes by all means ,looking forward to seeing what other information you find out.thankyou .Adrian.

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Hello, I have tried to sort a little “Blyde” company history around “Adrians” JNO knife, but to be truthful I wish I had let the confusion of “Blydes” bide. I have worked with a sketchy Blyde skeleton I formed out of the “Ancestry” cupboard.

It seems from an 1876 advert that the progenitor company for the manufacture of “Adrians” knife was James Blyde and Son; the company had been established in 1841. Subsequently, the company became “John Blyde Ltd”. Well that’s clear isn’t it?  Unfortunately, the first “James”, begat another “James” and subsequently a “John”. So who is the son then? The original “James Blyde” was possibly Sheffield born in 1803 and in 1841 he was described as a scissor smith. At that time he had a daughter “Sarah Ann”, 3 male children, the James aged 14, the John aged 8 and a William aged 2. In 1851 he had a daughter now “Sarah Edison”, with James, William Edwin, Edwin and an Eliza Ann. Confusingly, James is now said to be 17 and where has John gone? Something seems strange here and below is a mini grid concerning the old James Blydes first 2 sons.

  241325565_1jjblyde002.jpg.5a60db193abe93dc496317458851eb07.jpg

To me there is a mistake in the ages given in the 1841 census. The ages are transposed. John is the firstborn and James the second born. “James Blyde and Son” is father, James, and firstborn son John, and as you would expect John took over the concern.

Apparently in the 1861 census John is married and a “hardware manufacturer” employing 8 men and 2 boys. He has a son “Arthur J.” aged 4. We see an “Arthur Jno” again in the 1881 census, when 24, and working, probably, as a  “general clerk cutlery manufacturers”.

The old  “James” in 1861 was described as a scissor finisher and in 1871 and 1881 he is called retired”.

Taking information from the ad I first mentioned (and confirming Johnm’s imput), the corporate mark was then the word  “GENIUS” under a pictorial planet “Saturn” and the products are described as high quality scissors and they are also producers of specialist equine scissors and grooming tools.  The address given was “Clintock Works” at 72 and 74 Burgess St. Sheffield”. In subsequent history “Clintock Works” has another address. By 1883, the business is said to have moved to Clintock Works, Milton Street.  That Genius mark does not appear to be on Adrian’s penknife blades but it is regularly seen on Razor blades and it may be the matter of blade size? A couple of marks shown are below, including one on a spoon (the latter is just for me and the less cut throat readers).

1643433071_2JohnBlydemarks.jpg.bb1692b6f88ee2e53515a2d84f6622ce.jpg

 

On a 2nd trade ad, this one from 1921 “John Blyde Ltd” describe themselves as cutlery specialists including offering pen and pocket knives (the ad is a bit like “Johnm’s” ad shown earlier in this post).

This is more the age of Adrian’s knife and  “Genius” was shown on the ad as a trademark (not corporate mark this time) and with the statement it was granted by the “Cutlery Company” in 1865.

Adrian’s knife carries that other trademark, the “Golfer” that goes with the “Sure and Far” logo.

963270356_3GolfermarkBlyde.jpg.4ac437d5948b652616caf6a67c017dfc.jpg

I found a creditable reference relating to the “Golfer” pictorial mark and it said that the mark belonged to “A.J.Blyde” of Clintock Works Sheffield. Now, there is a familiar name again, the 1881 referenced son of John Blyde.

John Blyde died in December 1899 and a Sheffield newspaper report concerning his funeral is listed in another post on the Forum (I will reference it at the end). My quick synopsis is that John was taken ill on his way to work and later died. He leaves a Son, “Arthur Blyde” who will likely carry on the business. We are now coming to the period of that nice utility knife pictured at the start of Adrian’s post.

 “Strazors.com” gives a reference (probably the same as Johnm’s above) which says A.J. Blyde died in 1920 but the firm continued, including absorbing “Greenhoughs” and it famously made quality hand forged surgical scissors and pen and pocket knives.  It would be good to know what if any “Blyde” name was used after 1920 but they closed in the 1970’s. Any corrections or additions welcomed. Both the ads I quote from can be found via Graces Guides.

The forum John Blyde funeral reference is in W Gillott & Son in Sheffield History Chat 

 And that particular post has references to some of the other members of the original James Blydes family. There may be enough for another post!

Kalfred

Just an extra photo of tableware "items" with the John Blyde name. First half of the 20th century is a likely date.

 

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Hello again, usual thing looking for one thing and find something else. All through the history with the "Blydes" are references to scissors and here is that "JNO" mark on a pair.

13385641_JohnBlydescissors.jpg.951baad2cc4cfcfd85a5f8c539dd3478.jpg

I found some more scissors listed on line. Picture below.  We see "John Blyde" on this pair. I think they were around a 5 inch pair and wondered if they were from a period up to 1899 death of "John". Anybody with ideas on that?

 

798768882_JohnBlydescissors.jpg.b0cb1b38fcde2878cd6eccd48dcd03a5.jpg

Kalfred

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Some other bits and pieces:

In 1784 James Blyde, a husbandman of Sheephouse, Penistone, apprenticed his son, also called James, to Thomas Bennett a Sheffield scissorsmith.

On 16th January 1857 the scissor manufacturing partnership of James and John Blyde was dissolved by mutual consent and the business continued by John.

On 27th April 1865 William Blyde left the partnership of W.E.Blyde and Co. merchants and manufacturers, leaving Edwin Blyde and Sarah Ellison Blyde in the partnership.

In March 1869 patent ref 554 was granted to James Blyde " for improvemnets in scissors or apparatus suitable for gathering flowers" and then in September patent 2441 was similar but now included fruit

On 7th December 1882 James Blyde the elder, who had been retired, died. He left £1,989 17s and his executors were son Edwin Blyde, merchant and manufacturer of Palmerston Road, and John Marsden soap merchant.

On 5th October 1885 the partnership between James Henry Blyde and Percy Smith, under the name James Blyde and Co. of the Hallcar Works, Hallcar street, manufacturer od scissors, nippers and surgical and other instruments was dissolved by mutual consent.

On 27th May 1919 James Henry Blyde of 10 Grange Road retired form James Blyde and Co. Hallcar Road, steel toy manufacturer, handing the business over to his son Harry Percy Blyde.

On 11th July 1932 James Henry Blyde of 13 Byron Road died at the Sharrow Herad Nursing Home, leaving £13,249 8s 11d.

 

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Edmund has nicely bought the John Blyde’s brother James Blyde, (likely born 1833/4 back into the picture again. The 1861 census that described John as a “hardware manufacturer employing 8 men and 2 boys” calls James as a “Surgical ????? manuf”, but it is difficult to discern. Interestingly also in that year, 1861, the old “James” (born 1803) was described as a scissor finisher and you could wonder for whom he was doing that job?  Below is a reference that may lead you to a possible 1859 advert for some “Blydes”.

http://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y03077&pos=2&action=zoom

This reference brings more confusion to my mind as I see three options.  We have again a company called “James Blyde and Son”. Is this an old advert from the original company James and John? Is this a new company, old “James” and his 2nd son “James”, or for that young “James” and perhaps with a son of his own? To me it is more likely that it is the 2 “James” together. This company’s base is said to be Hall Carr, Spital Hill and referring again to the 1861 census James the son’s address was “Hall Carr Street” and although he had a son, “James Henry”, the child was only 2 years old.

Below is an advert (found by forum member “Vox”) referencing 1869, the year of the “flower and fruit gathering apparatus” patents noted by Edmund.

586538722_JamesBlydePruningKnifead.jpg.fe41f449b0816000d01ea82d53519d55.jpg

Is there anything significant here, as this ad, has a different name, just James Blyde? We also know from a census that in 1871 old James (1803) was retired (living on income from dividens) while young James (1833) was described as “maker and manufacturer” and employing “5 men and 2 boys”.

The concern must have been doing ok though as “James” (1833) was surprisingly, in 1881, a retired merchant and “James Henry” was living at home with his father and mother but his occupation was not stated. “James Henry” was likely involved in the business though, as we have come to another of “Edmund’s” notes.

“On 5th October 1885 the partnership between James Henry Blyde and Percy Smith, under the name James Blyde and Co. of the Hallcar Works, Hallcar Street, manufacturer of scissors, nippers and surgical and other instruments was dissolved by mutual consent.”

I am wondering where “Percy Smith” has turned up from? Could a possibly ailing James the “1881 retired merchant” have got someone else into the company to help his son. In January 1888 that retired James is said to have died.

I looked for Percy Smith on the 1881 census and he was an employer of 31 men and 4 boys manufacturing a large range of goods including nippers, meat tin openers and (perhaps significantly for later) steel toys. Was this “James Blyde & Co”?

Images of items of “James Blyde & Co” appear in short supply but I found some 8 inch calipers so labelled but sadly of unknown date. Has anybody got any more items from this company?

1537519717_JamesBlydeCo8insCaliparsDividers.jpg.f8e57b1b4eca6dd081a0f341358004a2.jpg

In 1891 we find that “James Henry” is discribed as a “steel toy manufacturer” and ten years on he is an employer and “cutlery manufacturer” and his son “Percy” is then 12. In 1911 “Percy” has become a “Harry Percy” and is 23. Both “James Henry” and “Harry Percy” are described as “cutlery manufacturers” and that leads on to “Edmund’s” last couple of “pieces” about the pair.

I have a couple of my own last snippets.

There are references that James Henry Blyde was associated with the trademark of a pictorial “well” and a written “well” and “finished”. I could not find an “on item” example of the mark to show. Also again, what about “Percy Smith”? I found him again on the 1891 census as “employed” as a  “Secretary Electroplating Company”.  Was that for “James Blyde & Co”? Anyone know more about “Percy Smith”? Subsequently he is a “Registrar” of births, deaths and marriages. As before does anybody know more or different about this stem of the Blyde family?

Kalfred.

 

 

 

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