Thread: Looking for info on these please

Just recently picked up a matching pair of 5/8 wedge blades.
Stamped on the tang
John Brown & Sons
Cutlers to the Queen
Newcastle on Tyne
With V (crown stamp) R
Both with smile and barbers notch.
Victoria between 1837 - 1901
later blades of that era seem to lose the "cutlers to the queen" stamp so possibly these are quite early ones.
Only a guess though.
I think John brown & sons were listed on Grey Street Newcastle.
If anyone could offer any info that would be great.
I'll upload some pics when I get a min.
Thank in advance

JOHN BROWN & CO., LTD.,
Atlas Works
Sheffield
1848 - (1892)
Cutlery of all kinds
Ref. 1892, 1974

Many thanks for the reply.
At first I thought the same but then realised it was John brown & Sons, not Company. And it was also stamped Newcastle on Tyne.
John Brown of Sheffield who later bought the Atlas Works was mainly interested in rail and large scale steel products, although yes they did do cutlery, the tang stamps have no ref. to Sheffield, or the "sons".
Unless anyone knows any different ?

Finished restoration and edges on jnat.
Ready for a nice shave ��

Nice job. A Beautiful set.

Yeah, I agree on a beautiful set, Barrington-Your best bet for info. on those is probably Voidmonster/Zac, who is a walking encyclopedia on the old British blades.

Interesting scale materials. Did you happen to order from these guys in the UK? https://www.rothkoandfrost.com/mater...lic-sheet-p711
I got some sheets of their pearloid material over the summer, and it is just uniquely beautiful to me. I'll be dropping a blade into it before too much time passes. I haven't seen anything similar on this side of the pond-they have some incredible designs. Let us know what you find out.

These were almost certainly not made by any of the Sheffield Johns of Brown. There were at least three in various branches of the cutlery trade.

However, I'm finding it very difficult to turn up any records for this particular Mr. Brown. All I can find is references to a John Brown & Sons in Elizabeth Bennion's 'Antique Dental Instruments'.

There is a John Brown listed in the 1860 census as a merchant {illegible}, which might be the right man, and which also means the blades were likely made in Sheffield by ... someone. Really though, this is an excellently obscure one! A real treasure!

Many thanks for your comments gasman, scouthikerdad and Zak.
Yes the scales material was from the rothkoandfrost. Very easy to work with. I suggest tape both sides when cutting as to avoid any splits.
Interesting note, one side polishes better than the other so choose the best side carefully. They clean up well with meguiars plastic polish.
Thank you Zak for your research on maker. If you dig anything else up I'd be interested to know what you find.
All the best and have a great day.
Barrington

Very nice work. Liking the shape and material of the scales. A set is always a nice piece to have.

Thanks Paul
Yep the scale material was nice to work with and hope I've done the blades justice. The company who supplied the material were superb. Next day delivery and loads of options. I'll be using them again shortly for the next few projects.