Thread: J. Askham a seldom seen Sheffield maker

Not much information here on this maker. Thought I'd share what I have on him.
John Askham was born in Sheffield in 1817. He served his apprenticeship in Broad Lane where Samual Frost operated a cutlery manufactory. In 1850 John Askham became a partner in the table cutlery business of Frost, Askham & Mosforth. Frost retired in 1852 and the firm became Askham & Mosforth. In 1855 Askham and Mosforth was desolved and John Askham became sole owner. In 1856 he ran a full page directory advertisement for Broad Lane Works as a manufacturer and merchant of table cutlery, spear knives, pocket cutlery, saws, files and edged tools. He also had an New York office on Pearl St. In 1861 he told the census he employed about 100 men. In 1865 the Children's Employment Commission depicted working conditions as cramped neglected and untidy. He died at age 76 in 1894. His Son Frank Chaplin Askham inherited Broad Lane Works. It remained neglected and unsafe and in 1901 the owner was fined for illegally employing children. By 1914 Askham had switched to the manufacture of cardboard boxes. Askham's trade mark was a toboggan (name and picture). The firm also owned the names J.A. Askham and J. Sharpe.
A 7/8 rattler grind blade restored in its original crocus type finish. I've added a few in process pictures. The show face side of the blade had a huge pit in the center. Note also the crack through the tang at the pivot hole. It could have happened about the time someone replaced the scales or when the pivot pin hole was punched during manufacturing. I'd like to think their QA was better than that. The scales are faux tortoise called Tortuga East from Masecraft. A polyester and soft like acrylic.














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Anther great job.

As always, Fantastic job my friend!

Beautiful work as always, Karl! That one has almost the exact same profile as my Frederick Reynolds rattler grind, and it's one of my favorites.

Wonderful and consistent with the quality of your work Karl!

I like the shape of the razor nice work. The scales are also very nice

Another beauty Karl and thanks for the background.

Nice job Karl!

Very nice looking razor from my locality, the firm weren't top of the league for working conditions - but I guess that was the way of most works 150 years ago..

After some searching around I found this old photo of Broad Lane Works, Sheffield. Interesting to link it to the razor above. It was on the corner of Broad Lane and Bailey Lane.