We believe that the knife in our collection (see photograph) was made in Sheffield (manufacturer unknown) for the Hinds jewellery shops.

The Hinds family history in the jewellery and watchmaking business started in 1825 when Joseph Hinds opened a shop in Stamford Lincolnshire.  His son George moved to London as a watchmaker.  Over the next 50 years several members of the Hinds family opened shops throughout the capital.

By the turn of the century the company was being run by Joseph’s grandson William with his great grandsons William, George and Frank joining in the years leading up to the First World War. William Hinds senior died in 1915 and his son George was killed at the Battle of the Somme.

The remaining brothers, William (1887-1957) and Frank (1891-1963), had different views on how to progress the business. In 1924 they decided to split the company into six shops each.

William continued with his jewellery shops, under the name W. Hinds, and diversified into other areas such as barbers and cycling shops. He also launched a theatrical career.  He bought seaside theatres e.g. West Cliff in Clacton, and performed as a comedian under the name of Will Hammer (after Hammersmith, London, where he was born). He ran summer concert parties with Jack Payne the bandleader and led the troupe called Will Hammer’s Players. His success in the theatre led him to diversify into films and in November 1934 he registered his own film company Hammer Productions Ltd. This became a world famous studio.

William Hinds died while cycling near his Leatherhead home in 1957.

His oldest son William (Bill) continued to run the jewellery shops for many years.  He sold up in the 1960s but continued as a jeweller until he died in 1989.  His widow eventually sold his remaining shop in Worthing to brother Frank’s company F Hinds in 1990. The second son Anthony rejoined Hammer Film Productions in 1946 when it was resurrected after being forced into bankruptcy in 1937.

Frank had concentrated on the jewellery business which continued to expand.  By 1973 it had 47 stores throughout the south and central England. F Hinds is still managed by the family and now has over 100 branches in England and Wales.