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Recently picked up a razor on the bay, but haven't been able to find any info on the maker. Figured what better place to look than probably the most collective knowledge of straights anywhere. Anyway the razor is a E Blaydes & Co. Sheffield. Any info would be appreciated.
Edward Blaydes & Co. was situated at the Advance Works, New Thomas Street, Sheffield.
In 1851 Edward lived with his father, a shopkeeper, and brothers John A Blaydes (attorney's clerk) and sisters Annie and Elizabeth. By 1861 Edward is recorded as a 'table blade grinder' living with wife Mary Ann - shopkeeper - and daughter Elizabeth Ann. In 1871 Edward Blaydes was a shopkeeper at 61 Eyre Lane and John Alfred Blaydes was a book-keeper living at 250 Eccleshall Road. In that same year Edward Blaydes is recorded as a 'table knife grinder' living with his wife - Mary Ann Blaydes, daughter Elizabeth Ann, apprentice James Needham and apprentice Frank Ibbotson.
The company of E. Blaydes & Co. was announced in 1871 and their corporate mark was crossed blades (table knife blades without handles, looking a bit like crossed cricket bats). In 1881 the firm of E. Blaydes & Co, Cutlery Manufacturers and General Factors purchased the corporate marks of Joseph Teuton & Sons (file makers) for the sum of £335. In the same year Edward is recorded as a 'spring-knife cutler and provisions dealer" living with wife Mary Ann and daughter Elizabeth Ann - now a grocer's assistant at 50/52 Albert Road. At some time they teamed-up with Joseph Wragg as cutlery manufacturers and general merchants, but the partnership was dissolved in 1883. John A Blaydes died in 1884 (as did his son in the same year) at the age of 48. The firm was taken over in that year by John Wragg & Son (not to be confused with the other two companies called John Wragg & Sons).
John Wragg died in 1887 and one of his sons - Joseph - took over the business. By Now New Thomas Street had been re-named Denby Street, but the works was still the Advance Works and the corporate sign was still the crossed blades of the former E. Blaydes & Co. Wraggs faltered in the 1890s and Joseph died in 1904.
Regards,
Neil
Thank you very much. Thanks to you I was able to learn some history on the company and I think I could date the razor from 1871-1884. Thanks again.