1892 Cutlery Trade

[RichardB]

The official figures of the value of cutlery exports to the United States for the past 12 months show that the M'Kinley tariff has had a very prejudicial effect upon this important branch of Sheffield industry.

During 1891 cutlery goods to the value of £116,131 were sent to the United Sitates against £234,510 in 1890. In the latter year, however, very heary supplies were forwarded in anticipation of the imposition of higher duties, and these have had to be worked off during the last 12 months. The outlook for the future is more hopeful, as the best qualities of cutlery are again in good demand. For the last qnarter of 1891 the exports have considerably increased as compared with the earlier quarters of the year. There is, however, scarcely any call for the cheaper classes of cutlery.