George Bramhall was a table knife cutler located at Sheaf Works, Pond Hill, Sheffield. The earliest record of the business we have found was a ‘Wanted’ advert for a table knife buffer at Sheaf Island Works placed by George in Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 12 July 1894. He appeared as a manufacturer in the Sheffield directory 1895-6, with the address as simply Pond Hill.

George was born in Sheffield in 1851, the son of Joseph Bramhall, a spring knife manager, and Sarah.  In 1872 he married  Emma Jeffcock, a colliers daughter, nine years later they were living at Court 1, House 1A, Ecclesall and George employed as a 'clerk in a table knife warehouse' (1881 Census).  

The 1901 census records that his family was also employed in the industry, i.e. son William Henry (1875 - 1958), a 'cutlery manager', daughter Lizzie a 'cutlery wrapper up' and youngest son Dennis a 'warehouse boy'.  Around this time several other advertisements appeared in the local newspapers for outworkers, typically 'scale, tang, bone cutlers (good)' and 'good table knife buffers'. 

George died 23 June 1931, aged 78 whilst living with his daughter at 322 Herries Road and on 27th June 1931 was interned at Tinsley Park Cemetery. His obituary notice stated that he was ‘late of Broad Oaks’. There is no evidence to confirm that the business established by George continued after his death. Kelly's Sheffield directories for the period 1932 to 1936 include a William H. Bramhall as 'a manager' and the 1939 pre World War II Register as a 'warehouseman table cutlery'.

We have no example of their knives in our Collection.  If you have any information on the company or a knife, please share it with us via enquiries@hawleytoolcollection.com.