All our products are handmade by craftsmen and can be personalised with laser engraving. I never get bored - you go from one job to another and get a different challenge with each thing. It's an artisan trade and one we must be careful not to lose. Once hardened, the scissor blades are ground and sharpened before being glazed, plated, buffed, polished and packaged up for selling. "When I started aged 15 I was turning screws, sweeping up - you learn bit by bit.". The 1974 Kutrite catalogue. Craft Scissors. After quenching the scissors are tempered in another furnace at 120ºc. The scissors start off as individual blank blades. Joyce Addy, 80, worked as a bow-dresser in another scissor factory in the 1970s. This rotating drum of ceramic chips smooths and rounds the outside edge of the scissors. View details and apply for this factory operator job in Sheffield (S20) with Hiring People on Totaljobs. The other remaining Sheffield scissor manufacturer is Whiteley's - established in 1760 as William Whiteley & Sons (Sheffield) Ltd. They have traditionally sold industrial scissors and the current catalogue lists over 150 different types; upholsterers, carpet-fitters and tailors shears, scissors for postal services all over the world, scissors for chefs, butchers, hairdressers. Finally the scissor blades are ground and sharpened, glazed, plated, buffed, polished and packaged for selling; Made in Sheffield scissors, part of the city's heritage. William Whiteley & Sons Contra Scissors Handmade in Sheffield England. Please turn on JavaScript. "We did the handles one by one from scratch. Why Traditional Sheffield Scissors Scissors Are so Expensive Kutrite managed to keep its head above water through tough years but keeping the trade alive through the latest recession has been a struggle for the company. Cliff walked the factory halls for the first time in 1968. The hammer with which Cliff tests and adjust the finished scissors is so well used that the handle has worn to the shape of his grip! 1-16 of 26 results for "sheffield scissors" Price and other details may vary based on size and color. In its 1960s heyday Kutrite employed 80 people. The huge scissors Philip Wright is holding in the photo are actually a display model to show off the craftsmanship of the scissor makers. They moved from their city centre workshop to Crystal Peaks in 2006. William Whiteley & Sons (Sheffield) Ltd, the family owned scissor manufacturer which has been in operation in Sheffield since 1760, has recently teamed up with the AMRC’s Design and Prototyping Group (DPG) to create an innovative new state-of-the-art design for their hand-crafted EXO range of scissors. The Kutrite factory has been located all over Kelham Island and Smithfield in Sheffield, but now sits happily at the junctions of Green Lane, Alma Street and Russell Street between two award-winning pubs. Sheffield 58297 Titanium Coated Scissors, 7 Inch. ... Sheffield. My family own the last UK-based traditional saw manufacturers (Flinn Garlick Saws), also based minutes away from Kelham Island and Kutrite in Sheffield. Kutrite, also known as Ernest Wright & Son, is based on Kelham Island, S3. Many of the processes, tools and methods have not changed for decades. $9.98 $ 9. In pictures: Sheffield's last scissor factory, Last craftsmen fight to save their trades, BBC Sheffield: The Made in Sheffield trademark. Bow-dressing is the smoothing and polishing of the inside of the handles (bows). "It's not a collar and tie job - we've had apprentices before but it's a dirty job and young people want to move on to other, cleaner, jobs.". Will Sharpen, Inc. is your professional full service blade sharpening company that has met the needws of industry professionals for over 35 years.When it comes to superior clipper blade, scissor and beauty shear sharpening, Will Sharpen stays on the cutting edge. In the 1970s Sheffield had 150 small scissor-making companies. In 1902 Walter's son Ernest established Ernest Wright & Son Ltd. The original name is now being re-adopted, The 1974 Kutrite catalogue listed around 150 different types of scissors, Philip Wright is Chairman and Managing Director of the company, Cliff's hammer has worn to the shape of his grip, There are just three remaining skilled 'scissor putter-togetherers' at Kutrite, The scissors are put in furnaces of two different temperatures, The factory has been all around Kelham Island and Smithfield. But they've all died off and nobody took over, nobody wants to do it. After quenching they are tempered at 120�c. The name on the scissors is A Wright and Son Ltd Made in Sheffield - it would seem they are still in business in Sheffield. A world recognised scissor manufacturer, established in 1760 is currently experiencing rapid growth and requiring a Factory Operator (plus other duties) . He decided back then, aged 70, that he … It keeps us working hard, to get you that perfect cut. A unique scissor forged and handmade for collector and craftsman. "Then I moved on to working with scissors and surgical instruments. I've done it 95% of my life and I like doing it, that's why I carried on after I retired!". I have a pair of scissors that say "Made by Richards of Sheffield, England." With thanks to Kutrite/Ernest Wright & Son for the information in this feature. ‘The only scissors that you could give as a wedding present’, according to the Daily Telegraph. My aunts Kitty Wainright, Nora Storer and Vera Cutts all worked in the cutlery industry for many years. When I joined the cutlery trade after leaving school I started off pinning wooden scales on to knife handles. 3.9 out of 5 stars 17. 5.0 out of 5 stars 3. Imperial, an American company, bought them out in the mid-70’s, but the plant closed in the mid-80’s. In 1930, the Richartz brothers from Solingen (GER) opened what would be the largest cutlery factory in Sheffield. Industrial Sheffield's last scissor factory, In the 1960s the company name Ernest Wright & Son Ltd was changed to the 'modern' sounding Kutrite. DRESSMAKER. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Finally we see shots of the nearby countryside, so close to the city’s industry. I moved to Sheffield in 1993 hoping to become a knife maker with Stan Shaw. These handmade scissors have been produced in Sheffield, England, for over 100 years. The philosophy ‘buy once, buy well’ has never been truer than with scissors. Home / Sheffield Scissors We are the oldest scissor maker in the western world and the last industrial scissor maker in sheffield Sheffield was the centre of blade production from the 14th century and by 1600 became the biggest producer of cutlerY across the whole country except for London The original name is re-adopted for the 21st century. MYVAN made its way to Sheffield, England, to visit Cliff and the factory of Ernest Wright Scissors. The blades are smithed (straightened), assembled, and then tempered in furnaces of different heats. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Whiteley’s was founded in 1760 and is now the last industrial scissor-maker in the UK, and the oldest scissorsmiths in the western world. Did you work in Sheffield's metalwork industry, or know someone who did? The oil absorbs the heat slowly and gently, and lubricates the metal. The scissors are quenched in a bath of oil and water for five to 10 minutes. The company struggle to find, and afford, willing apprentices and are nervous about the company's future once the three skilled workmen retire. The company Ernest Wright & Son Ltd was established in 1902 but the name was changed to the 'modern' sounding Kutrite in the 1960s. Joyce Addy, 80, worked as a bow-dresser in another scissor factory in the 1970s. Sewing/craft is one of the company’s specialisms (the other major one being kitchen scissors). The Kutrite factory has been located all over Kelham Island and I've been doing it 42 years, 95% of my life, and I enjoy it!". Ernest Wright & Son Ltd want to start supplying scissors to the retail sector - kitchen scissors, gardening blades, dressmaking shears and so on. The blades are smithed (straightened), assembled, and put on these poles ready for the furnace. A rack of finished kitchen scissors. Where once 40,000 workers were employed in the Sheffield cutlery sector, with about 70 scissor-making companies alone, there were just … Buy Essentials Series from Knifecenter.com - The Original and Largest Online Catalog of Cutlery Located in former 19th century scissor factory, Crystal is a stylish late night bar and event space. FREE Shipping. They are the last remaining scissor factory in Sheffield, England. Little mesters were self-employed craftsmen who rented space in a factory and specialised in one step of the production process. A new bar on a special plot Situated on Kelham Island in Sheffield, on the site of the world-famous Kutrite scissor factory, Sheffield's newest bar, Kin, needed an identity and branding collateral. In pictures: Sheffield's last scissor factory, Industrial Sheffield's last scissor factory, Last craftsmen fight to save their trades. The company, now based at Crystal Peaks, celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2010 and sells around 250,000 pairs of scissors worldwide each year. Dressmakers and tailors will appreciate these scissors’ sharp, precise points, which are perfect for trimming fabric and unpicking threads. The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Kutrite's blanks used to be made from scratch in Sheffield but they now come from Italy. My mother Irene Allen worked in the metalwork industry after the war. Having lived down the lane from Kutrite for the last two years - and putting up with a duff Chinese pair of kitchen scissors, I decided it completely ironic that I hadn't bought a pair direct from the factory down the street! A 'little mester', Walter Wright, began making scissors in the 1880s. Crystal, 23 - 29 Carver Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 4FS Tel: 0114 272 5926 // 07507 054477 PLEASE NOTE OFFICE HOURS ARE BETWEEN 10AM & 4PM For bookings please contact : bookings@crystalbar.uk.com It has been making scissors and shears since 1902, and is known for using traditional manufacturing methods, such as manual grinding on stone grinding wheels and ‘putting together’ scissors by hand. 8.25″ SIDEBENT TAILOR SHEARS. I am the 3rd generation of my family to work in this industry and we aim to keep saw manufacturing traditions alive. $12.34 $ 12. 98. Fine quality long lasting products made by a family firm which can trace it’s scissor manufacturing origins back to the mid 19th century. He has done the job for 51 years, including 20 years at Morton Scissors on West Street. By the 1960s it was decided that the company needed a more modern name and they hit upon Kutrite. We’re proud that our famous Turton scissors are on the list of 20 household items to buy once and love for ever! According to Cliff, it is difficult for the company to find the right young people to take on the trade: "We've had apprentices before but it's not a collar-and-tie job - it's a dirty job. But I'm glad I don't have to do it now!". In the 1970s, Sheffield boasted no less than 150 small scissor-making companies. Kutrite do a very good quality shear and even in the recession people are spending money on top quality items.". QUALITY & PASSION. 34. They were the backbone of Sheffield's cutlery industry from the late 16th to the 18th century. This picture shows the process of serrating kitchen scissors. This was a job traditionally done by hand by women but now it is done mechanically. J. SHEPHARD Birmingham In business in 1817. 3. In 2010 they are rebranding for the 21st century, under the original name Ernest Wright & Son Ltd. Steel globalisation and cheap imports meant many steel companies and metalwork firms in South Yorkshire, and particularly in Sheffield, closed down. Scissors appear everywhere you look in the factory this one is used as a window latch. Please do visit the shop and have a look. Whiteley's is the other scissor manufacturer in Sheffield. Under this alliance were many grinders’ trade unions including the Knife Grinders Union, the Saw Grinders Union and the File Grinders Union. The General Purposes Scissors are a decades-old pattern, cut from a batch of recovered blanks in 2020 by Ernest Wright. Ian Chapman is another scissor putter-togetherer who is past retirement age: "You get a different challenge with each of the jobs. Terms & Conditions. The scissors are put in two different furnaces; the first is white hot at about 900�c. Cliff has put scissors together for 51 years. Nick says scissors imported from abroad may be cheaper but cannot compete on the quality of Sheffield handmade scissors: "They have much cheaper overheads abroad and undercut us in price, but we compete on quality. BUY. The family business Ernest Wright had been producing high-quality scissors for 116 years, until it was on the brink of collapse in 2018. Traditional and Made in Sheffield became rather untrendy. Now there are just two, and only one of those remains in the city centre. We … Are they worth repairing or should I just put them in the trash? The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Our scissor factory are leaders in their field with heritage stretching back over 250 years. He has been at Kutrite for 42 years: "Every job is different. I visited and ended up purchasing several pairs , some as presents - the craftmanship and passion that goes into these is quite obvious. By 1838, the Alliance of Organized Trades was formed. Cliff Denton is one of the three skilled scissor-makers remaining in the company. VIEW OUR HISTORY. This process hardens the blade but not the handles, which remain malleable. ", Cliff says there will always be a need for this type of industry in the UK and thinks it is sad that it has declined so drastically: "In the 1950s and 60s little mesters were on every street corner producing and repairing. Archive film 99493” Only 39 seconds long, this HuntleyFilmArchives footage shows a small crowd of factory workers leaving the premises and others walking along crowded pavements. Many scissors made abroad hardly cut - the paper just wraps around the blade instead of shearing it. Now the company intend to branch out into retail, selling handmade kitchen scissors, dressmaking shears, manicure scissors and gardening blades - many presented in lined boxes. Craft Scissors. "There are a lot of nooks and crannies which need to be learned in this job," says Cliff who worked at Morton Scissors on West Street for 20 years. Media requires JavaScript to play. It's only natural. Now there are just two. But I'm glad I don't have to do it now!". Thursday, November 14, 1912 ay., IIt gris bta for :trio --- int One sod -GA Ai& hee. Before WWII, they anglicized their name to “Richards,” which is the name you see on the middle pair of scissors (above). The second furnace is at 'straw heat,' 840�c, which levels out the temperature. Tell us your memories of the little mester trades in Sheffield, using the form below. Whiteley’s is a leading producer of industrial and professional scissors and shears, developing cutting solutions to match the latest materials in automotive, aerospace and many other industries. it tea tar - 10111 lee )lete .046 ' luty ;0 UP sitik 0 it riot wash :11 7011' it re lett l31,1 el r suit. The Famous Sheffield Shop Limited 475 Ecclesall Road Sheffield S11 8PP United Kingdom Call us on +44 (0)114 268 5701 +44 (0)114 268 5701. Built the Sheaf Works (first large factory in Sheffield) in 1823-6 1816 – 1850 (“Old Sheffield Razors” by Lummus. Water alone hardens the blades too quickly and makes them brittle but oil absorbs the heat slowly and gently, lubricating the metal. William Whiteley & Sons Contra Scissors Handmade in Sheffield England. Ernest Wright | Handmade scissors since 1902 Sheffield England The handles are smoothed and polished, a process known as bow-dressing. Philip Wright is Chairman and Managing Director of the company. They are an ideal companion for working with textiles, or for all-purpose domestic use. Made to order from an exclusive die. Cliff Denton is one of them. Since 1760, every scissor produced by the company has been hand-made, assembled and tested by craftsmen, using the skills and techniques honed and handed down over centuries. These sharp, nimble scissors are ideal for everyday domestic use and delicate work with textiles. It is now between the Fat Cat pub and Kelham Island Tavern. ", Ian Chapman is another scissor putter-togetherer who is past retirement age. But there are a lot of nooks and crannies which need to be learned in this job. Do you own a pair of Kutrite scissors? Whiteley's has been a family business for eleven generations and make around 250,000 pairs of scissors a year. They rented an eight-foot-square room from cutlery manufacturer Brookes & Crookes. His son Nick has started working in the family business on a voluntary basis, in the hope that they will be able to keep the company going through tough economic conditions. Those scissors which have coloured handles, such as dressmaking shears, are dipped one by one into paint, and left to dry. Young people stay with us a while and then want to move on to other, cleaner, jobs. As early as 1822, there was an alliance of six cutlery trade unions in Sheffield, united under the name Sheffield Mechanical Trades Association. They look just like the ones in the photo but the tips do not meet. All three are past retirement age but have stayed on because there are no apprentices to take on their skills - and for the love of scissors, of course! If you’re unfamiliar with the company, they have been making scissors in Sheffield since 1902. We hear from the employees of Kutrite, the last remaining scissor factory in the industrial heart of Sheffield. The company has traditionally sold industrial scissors to upholsterers, carpet-fitters, tailors, the postal service, chefs and so on. The factory has a small shop which is open to the public and is well worth a visit. Walter Wright, a little mester, began making scissors in the 1880s. Kutrite's sales director Nick Wright is the fifth generation of the family, working in the family business voluntarily in the hope that they will be able to keep going through the tough economic conditions. The current publication lists over 150 different types of scissors. They are very fine and she uses them when she is doing cross stitching. Being back in a scissor factory brings back memories - the smells, the taste. Ernest Wright is a scissors manufacturer in Sheffield, England. Factory Workers In The 1960s “Sheffield Workers leave factory, early 1960’s. Scissors are a one-time purchase. Antiques, December 1922 p.261-267) GREAVES, W & SONS "We bow-dressed the handles from scratch, one by one. Paul and his business partner Jan Bart made their decision in just an hour … When I started aged 15 I was turning screws and sweeping up - you learn bit by bit. May 13, 2012 - Explore Ernest Wright Ltd's board "Our Scissors" on Pinterest. She worked at Roberts and Belk just off Arundel Gate which is now a different company. Our Sheffield scissors are precision handmade products made with carbon steel which is a hard high quality steel. We worked in ebony, rosewood and peach wood, and then we got a contract with the Scouts to make daggers with stag- and buffalo-horn handles. How to get in touch with us. Sheffield 8-1/2 Inch Titanium Coated Scissors. Many of the scissor-making processes, tools and methods have stayed the same for decades. It was traditionally done by hand by women, but nowadays is done by machine. His experience shows in the wooden handle of his hammer, which has worn to the shape of his grip. Kutrite's factory has been at various locations around Kelham Island and Smithfield but is now situated between the Fat Cat pub and the Kelham Island Tavern, with a factory shop in the entrance. Now there are just three skilled 'scissor putter-togetherers' at Kutrite. “I’m Grace Horne and I’m a scissor maker. Ernest Wright and Sons, based on Broad Ln, Sheffield, are a classically genius scissor making company having being open since 1902. Being back in a scissor factory brings back memories - the smells, the taste. Water alone would harden the blades too quickly and make them brittle. Twisted Scissors Holiday Bazaar - (Dec. 3rd from 1pm-4pm) Vendors include: Sideshow Gallery, Cloud Vapor Lounge, Bruiser Clothing, The Fix Pies, and … One of those companies is Kutrite, established in 1902 as Ernest Wright & Son. See more ideas about scissors, handmade wallpaper, kitchen scissors. The scissors have been televised and talked about on the radio bringing in a large attraction to owning a pair of the homemade Kutrite scissors, even Kirstie Allsopp loves her Ernest Wright scissors. By chance, he discovered a scissor factory in Sheffield. Proud of our heritage. The scissors are quenched in oil and water for five to 10 minutes. They moved from their city centre workshop to Crystal Peaks in 2006. I bought a pair of scissors for my wife at the 'Sheffield Scene' shop on Surrey St about nine years ago. The scissors start off as individual blank blades which at one time were made in Sheffield from scratch but now come from Italy. SHEFFIELD SCISSOR, RAZOR & TOOL CO Sheffield At least 1892 to at least 1919. Whiteley's is the other scissor manufacturer in Sheffield.
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