Joseph Rodgers and Sons
of 6 Norfolk Street, Sheffield
1682 Business founded as penknife cutlers
1730 Maurice and Joseph Rodgers moved the business from Hollis Croft to Sycamore Street
1764 They received their trade mark, a Maltese cross and star, from the Cutlers' Company.
1800 Introduced further products, manufacturing razors and table knives.
1800 Joseph Rodgers and Sons had been established at Norfolk St, Sheffield.
A few years later began making scissors
c1821 By special appointment cutlers to the Royal family
1842 Dissolution of the Copartnership formerly subsisting between John Rodgers, Henry Atkin, and Joseph Nelstrop, together with George Rodgers, lately deceased, in the trades or businesses of Merchants, Factors, Silversmiths, and Manufacturers of Cutlery Wares, at Sheffield, under the firm of Joseph Rodgers and Sons[1]
1856 Expiration of the Partnership between John Rodgers, Henry Atkin, Joseph Nelstrop, Robert Newbold, George Joseph Rodgers, and Joseph Rodgers the younger, as Merchants, Factors, Silversmiths, and Manufacturers of Cutlery Wares, at Sheffield, under the style or firm of Joseph Rodgers and Sons, by effluxion of time; from 1 Jan 1857 George Joseph Rodgers, Robert Newbold, Joseph Rodgers the younger, and Joseph Nelstrop, constituted the said firm and carried on the said trades and businesses[2]
1866 Joseph Nelstrop withdrew from the partnership with Joseph Rodgers the younger and Robert Newbold as Joseph Rodgers and Sons which was continued by Rodgers and Newbold[3]
By 1869 the business occupied a whole block with frontage in Norfolk Street
1870 December: formation of limited liability company; half of the shares were held by the 2 surviving partners, the remainder amongst private subscribers[4]
1871 Public company. The company was registered on 1 January, to take over the business of the firm of the same name, as cutlers and silver and electro-plate manufacturers. [5]
By 1876 the business of Joseph Rodgers and Co was at 33 Charles St, Sheffield (see advert)
1914 Manufacturers of cutlery and silver and electro-plate. Specialities: crucible and shear steel, table and pocket cutlery, razors and scissors, silver and electro-plated goods, spoons, forks, fish eating knives etc. [6]
1926 Mr F. J. Pullan, joint managing director of the company retires. Mr D. A. Palmer was elected general manager and Mr A. K. Wilson was director.[7][8]
1961 Cutlery manufacturers. 325 employees. [9]