Rodgers Bros was an edge tool manufacturer, which was established in 1884 and used ‘JOHN BULL’ as its mark.  In 1889, Hearnshaw Bros (edge tool makers at Sorby Street Works) acquired the mark and used it on its ‘Celebrated Cutlery’, tools, and electro-plate.  When Hearnshaw began stamping cutlery with the words ‘RODGERS BROS, SHEFFIELD’, Joseph Rodgers & Sons Ltd sued Frank M. Hearnshaw and William F. Hearnshaw for trade mark infringement.  In 1903, Joseph Rodgers won at a cost of £152, of which £99 was paid by the defendants.  According to Rodgers’ counsel, Hearnshaw Bros had no celebrated cutlery, because they had never made any.  Presumably, any knives marked Rodgers Bros would be rare.  However, Hearnshaw’s was able to continue to use the Rodgers Bros/John Bull mark on its edge tools.  In 1909, Joseph Rodgers & Sons won another court case against Hearnshaw’s for breaching the injunction.  Thomas R. Ellin, Garden Street, acquired Hearnshaw Bros and the John Bull mark during the 1940s.