Thread: Crookes & Straights

This is GREAT!
Just picked this up yesterday and been having a hard time finding info on it.

Found this one locally, blade only...

Originally Posted by Patryn

Yeah I read that. I am curious why there is no info on any of the Razor Makers list for this company. I would assume it was registered with the "co" part right?

I have summoned Neil Miller. If anyone can shed light, I would be him!

I am wondering if c.crookes, g.crookes and brookes&crookes are related or family or completely different?

Seems weird to have so many with different first names and all in the same area of operation.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I have summoned Neil Miller. If anyone can shed light, I would be him!

Thanks for the help

Jonathan (or 'John') Crookes (a) first:
First mentioned in Directories (1774 - 1797) as a pen and pocket knife maker in Scotland Street - the heart & pistol mark was granted in 1780. He was probably the father of Jonathan Crookes (b) born 1787.

Jonathan Crookes (b)
Born 1787. Worked for Joseph Rodgers & Sons until 1827 before going into business on his own account. In 1828 he was at Rockingham Lane. In 1833 he was listed as living in Rockingham Street and working out of Bailey Lane. In 1837 he was in Broad Lane.

Sometime between 1828 and 1837 he was joined by his son, Henry Crookes (born c1812), and the firm was re-named Jonathan Crookes & Son. In 1839 they were in Eldon Street. Jonathan Crookes retired c1841, the partnership was dissolved, and Henry Crookes carried on with the business (under the same name as before). He died in 1866. Henry Crookes died in 1892. He had no children to leave the business to, and razor maker Joseph Allen acquired the marks of Jonathan Crookes & Son.

G. Crookes & Co.
George Crookes was listed as a table knife maker in 1840s and as a 'merchant' ie a re-seller of other peoples wares. He lived in East Vie, Parkers Road and worked out of 95 Norfolk Street. By 1862 the business had become Crookes & Clarke (Henry Crookes, son of George Crookes, and Thomas Clarke. Henry's son George, also living at East View, was a merchants clerk. By 1868 the firm had changed name to Henry Crookes & Co (Henry Crookes and George Crookes). George senior died in 1876 leaving Henry to run the firm, which moved to Bramwell Street, being run by Henry and his son George. Henry Crookes & Co changed into a limited company in 1879 and Henry retired in 1880, leaving his sons - George and Charles Crookes) running the firm. By 1887 records show that a Herbert Brookes was the sole partner, ie he had acquired Henry Crookes & Co. Henry died in 1899 and Hale Bros, in the same street (Allen Street) had acquired the name. In 1901 the address of Crookes and Hale Bros was the same - Moorfield Works, Snow Lane.

Brookes & Crookes
John Brookes displayed goods made by him in Broomhall Street at the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851. The goods were ladies work boxes and gents cases, nailfiles, scissors, tweezers corkscrews and daggers, so he was a cutler. He was joined by Thomas Crookes, formerly a solicitors clerk, in 1858, setting up at 58 St Philips Road. The house had workshops and a grinding wheel - the Atlantic Works, and once belonged to Thomas Wigfall. In 1859 they were listed as selling spring knives and dressing cases instruments.

John Brookes died young (39 yrs old) in 1865 and Thomas Crookes took over the business. He was primarily just a salesman and his manager William Westby ran the works as manager of the spring knife department. Westby was by now a partner in Brookes & Crookes. He retired - and died - in 1891. Thomas ran the firm and was aided by his two sons - Herbert and Willis. In the 1900s the next generation had taken over in the form of Herbert Crookes and Cyril Crookes. Thomas died in 1912.

C. Crookes & Co
This company is mentioned in a Fayetteville newspaper of 1860 as a fine english maker of knives. I doubt that this is a mis-spelling any more than the stamp on Toms razor is a mis-stamp. A C. Crookes is also listed as an exhibitor from Sheffield at the 1851 Great Exhibition.

James Crookes
Early cutler, maker of 'Old English' stamped razors. He is possibly the James Crookes apprenticed to Derek William, this James Crookes earned his Freedom in 1791. Or he could be the James Crookes who was apprenticed to Benjamin Sanderson who earned his freedom in 1784. Both have John Crookes listed as father. Or he could have been (very unlikely!) the James Crookes from Hallamshire, Sheffield, who was listed as a cutler in the insolvent debtors section dated 31st March 1767. He is possibly the James Crookes who made files for Huntsman & Asline in 1769.

In summary we have a lot of people named Brookes and a lot of people named Crookes who might well be realted but who practised similar trades at different times. Brookes & Crookes seems to not have much to do with the others, unlike what we are led to believe from earlier postings.

Regards,
Neil.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Jonathan (or 'John') Crookes (a) first:
First mentioned in Directories (1774 - 1797) as a pen and pocket knife maker in Scotland Street - the heart & pistol mark was granted in 1780. He was probably the father of Jonathan Crookes (b) born 1787.

Jonathan Crookes (b)
Born 1787. Worked for Joseph Rodgers & Sons until 1827 before going into business on his own account. In 1828 he was at Rockingham Lane. In 1833 he was listed as living in Rockingham Street and working out of Bailey Lane. In 1837 he was in Broad Lane.

Sometime between 1828 and 1837 he was joined by his son, Henry Crookes (born c1812), and the firm was re-named Jonathan Crookes & Son. In 1839 they were in Eldon Street. Jonathan Crookes retired c1841, the partnership was dissolved, and Henry Crookes carried on with the business (under the same name as before). He died in 1866. Henry Crookes died in 1892. He had no children to leave the business to, and razor maker Joseph Allen acquired the marks of Jonathan Crookes & Son.

G. Crookes & Co.
George Crookes was listed as a table knife maker in 1840s and as a 'merchant' ie a re-seller of other peoples wares. He lived in East Vie, Parkers Road and worked out of 95 Norfolk Street. By 1862 the business had become Crookes & Clarke (Henry Crookes, son of George Crookes, and Thomas Clarke. Henry's son George, also living at East View, was a merchants clerk. By 1868 the firm had changed name to Henry Crookes & Co (Henry Crookes and George Crookes). George senior died in 1876 leaving Henry to run the firm, which moved to Bramwell Street, being run by Henry and his son George. Henry Crookes & Co changed into a limited company in 1879 and Henry retired in 1880, leaving his sons - George and Charles Crookes) running the firm. By 1887 records show that a Herbert Brookes was the sole partner, ie he had acquired Henry Crookes & Co. Henry died in 1899 and Hale Bros, in the same street (Allen Street) had acquired the name. In 1901 the address of Crookes and Hale Bros was the same - Moorfield Works, Snow Lane.

Brookes & Crookes
John Brookes displayed goods made by him in Broomhall Street at the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851. The goods were ladies work boxes and gents cases, nailfiles, scissors, tweezers corkscrews and daggers, so he was a cutler. He was joined by Thomas Crookes, formerly a solicitors clerk, in 1858, setting up at 58 St Philips Road. The house had workshops and a grinding wheel - the Atlantic Works, and once belonged to Thomas Wigfall. In 1859 they were listed as selling spring knives and dressing cases instruments.

John Brookes died young (39 yrs old) in 1865 and Thomas Crookes took over the business. He was primarily just a salesman and his manager William Westby ran the works as manager of the spring knife department. Westby was by now a partner in Brookes & Crookes. He retired - and died - in 1891. Thomas ran the firm and was aided by his two sons - Herbert and Willis. In the 1900s the next generation had taken over in the form of Herbert Crookes and Cyril Crookes. Thomas died in 1912.

C. Crookes & Co
This company is mentioned in a Fayetteville newspaper of 1860 as a fine english maker of knives. I doubt that this is a mis-spelling any more than the stamp on Toms razor is a mis-stamp. A C. Crookes is also listed as an exhibitor from Sheffield at the 1851 Great Exhibition.

James Crookes
Early cutler, maker of 'Old English' stamped razors. He is possibly the James Crookes apprenticed to Derek William, this James Crookes earned his Freedom in 1791. Or he could be the James Crookes who was apprenticed to Benjamin Sanderson who earned his freedom in 1784. Both have John Crookes listed as father. Or he could have been (very unlikely!) the James Crookes from Hallamshire, Sheffield, who was listed as a cutler in the insolvent debtors section dated 31st March 1767. He is possibly the James Crookes who made files for Huntsman & Asline in 1769.

In summary we have a lot of people named Brookes and a lot of people named Crookes who might well be realted but who practised similar trades at different times. Brookes & Crookes seems to not have much to do with the others, unlike what we are led to believe from earlier postings.

Regards,
Neil.

Thanks for the info Neil! If only this blade could talk, I bet it would have some cool stories.

Indeed, Neil, Thanks! That is certainly a categorical cadenza of Crookes!
As always, I am in your debt.

Finest Regards,
Tom

Here's a couple I have. The first one is done in Ivory scales. The second one is a heavy wedge from Eldon Street but it does not say " & Sons" on it. I don't know if they had that on them but reading the article on them the ones from Eldon Street were supposedly Jonathan Crooks & Sons.

Originally Posted by engine46

Here's a couple I have. The first one is done in Ivory scales. The second one is a heavy wedge from Eldon Street but it does not say " & Sons" on it. I don't know if they had that on them but reading the article on them the ones from Eldon Street were supposedly Jonathan Crooks & Sons.

Beautiful man