Identifying a Greaves & Sons

[theeditor]

I just picked this up today.

It reads:
B.J. Ey......
Late W. Greaves & Sons
Sheffield

Looks to be a full wedge. Black horn scales.

Just looking for some info. Got it for next to nothing.

Thanks much
Bruce

[Fierce30rus]

Hello Bruce
See http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...,_B._J._%26_Co.
"Benjamin J.Eyre purchase W.Greavers & Son in 1850.
In 1876, "B.J.Eyre &Co LATE W.Greaves & Son" was sold to Frederick Wiebusch.
B.J.Eyre & Co - a trademark used by Frederick Wiebusch. "

[Neil Miller]

Hello Bruce,

A fuller history of that tang stamp is that William Greaves, the richest man in Sheffield at the time, died in 1830 leaving his sons Richard and Edward Greaves to run the company - which they did by appointing new directors. Richard died in 1835 followed by Edward in 1846. That ended the history of the Greaves in the firm and left John Bower Brown (who had been an apprentice in the company and who had married William's youngest daughter) in control. In the 1840s additional partners were sought - Benjamin James Eyre was one such, and he was called a 'merchant' partner. When J B Brown died the firm of Greaves was dissolved - sometime in the 1850s - and B J Eyre formed his own company - Eyre, Ward & Co.

Greaves was situated at the Sheath Works, and although parts of it were sold off, Eyre occupied its cutlery department. Eyre, Ward & Co. insured their success by exhibiting to great reviews at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Eyre, Ward & Co was dissolved in 1857, and B J Eyre continued to trade alone, still at the Sheath Works, as B. J. Eyre & Co. In 1863 he moved to Rockingham Street. Benjamin died in 1878, two years after selling his 'Challenge' mark to Frederick Wiebusch.

When Eyre acquired part of the Greaves sheath Works in 1850, Thomas Turton & Co bought the rest, and also acquired the Greaves trademark. That leads me to assume - perhaps wrongly - that there was a period between the dissolution of Eyre, Ward & Co commencing in 1857 when B. J. Eyre & Co was set-up and before the registration of the 'Challenge' trade mark, which dates to 1867.

Regards,
Neil

[theeditor]

Thank you very much.

Bruce