Thread: Vintage Razor Information-John Petty & Sons Trademark

That would be it, I reckon! ....Unless? Seems the line, or 'ground' beneath the barrel Is a clue!
Great razors, awesome steel!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

That would be it, I reckon! ....Unless? Seems the line, or 'ground' beneath the barrel Is a clue!
Great razors, awesome steel!

I have more info coming up including the line beneath the barrel from Tweedales Book.

John Petty & Sons Ltd

In the 1850's John Thomas Petty (1818-1887) appeared in directories as a grocer & a shopkeeper at 58 Garden Street. He was probably the pen blade forger who was enumerated in the Census in Solly Street in 1841. His father may have been Charles Petty, a silver plater in Solly Steeet who died in February 1838 (age 61): & whose widw Jane died 20 November 1854, aged 72. By the 1860's John T. Petty was forging blades again. In 1868 he advertised as a maker of farriers' & oyster knives. He established a thriving business, which later passed to his son by his wife (Sarah): John Thomas Petty
(1848-1931) & Joseph Heald Petty (1856-1920). In the 1880's Thomas Petty moved to Crooksmoor Road where he died, aged 69, on 3 March 1887. He was buried in the Generals Cemetary's unconsecrated section, He left GBP 2,300.

Petty's was toward the top of Garden Street, amongst a complex of workshops, forges & dwellings. In 1881 John T. Petty Jun. stated that the firm only employed four men & two females. However in the late nineteenth century John & Joseph began expanding the business. By the mid 1890's, the address was Perth Works, a compact building of three storeys, standing at No 60 at Garden Street. The factory could have provided enough employment for a hundred hands or more, though probably not all of the occupants would have worked directly for Petty's. The firm built a solid reputation for its butchers' & trade knives (such as those used by painters, glaziers, plumbers & cloth workers).Petty's trade catalogues also offered table cutlery; 'Green River' knives; pocket & sportsman's knives; & scissors. The firm made some fine exhibition pocket knives. Even after the first World War, much of petty's output was hand forged, as befits a firm in Garden Street - a location well known fr its cutlery forges. The corporate mark was a barrel (pictured) granted in 1791, with the word 'MAGNETIC' used on razors & pocket knives. By the 1890's the pig mark of Robert Hallam (qv) had been acquired; by 1907. Petty's had added the marks of William Gregory & sons (qv) & from the late 1920's, Joseph Mills (qv) & its judge's head mark belonged to Petty.

Joseph Heald Petty, Bower Road, died 23 January 1920, leaving GBP 20,770. His brother John T. Petty, died 30 July 1931, aged 82 at his home in Elmore Road & was buried in Fulwood Cemetery. He left GBP 27,124. The latter son John Bernard Petty (1879-1949), ensured that the firm remained in family hands. In 1927 He patented a linoleum knife with a handle that closed in the blade (like a modern Stanley Knife). J.B. Petty who lived in Glebe Road died on 31 October 1949. He left GP 18,314. Two descendants continued to operate Perth Works. They were John Douglas Petty (1895-1961) who was the son of Joseph Heald; & John Reginald Petty (1908-1996), the son of John Bernard Petty. They converted the firm to limited liability in 1953, with a capital of GBP 10,000. John Douglas Petty , Ashdene, Ninelands Road, Hathersage, died at the Royal Hospital in Sheffield on 18 May 1961. He left GBP 27,215. Perth Works finally closed in 1986. It was a fine example of a fine Sheffield cutlery factory, but its new owner immediately demolished it. The photograph was taken by the author shortly before demolition. In 2013 the site remained vacant. Kelham Island Museum has a fine case display of Petty's knives.

Thanks for posting your information. That was fun to read!

I noticed this too what I was cleaning it up and honing it. It took an edge extremely well, I was surprised.

Originally Posted by Jared13

Thanks for posting your information. That was fun to read!

I got my information from another book I have. I'm so glad you liked it.