This firm has a complex lineage.  It may have started with the activities of George Bishop, who was listed in 1774 as a wool shear and edge tool manufacturer.  In 1781, he was presumably the George Bishop, wood knife and edge tool maker, who appeared in a Sheffield directory (with no address).  Bishop, Weldon & Co had appeared by 1791; and by the end of that decade Bishop, Weldon & Carr, merchants and factors, was operating in Bridge Street.   This was apparently the ‘Weldon’, which was the progenitor of Hiram Cutler.   Weldon withdrew and by about 1805 the firm was Bishop, Potts, Carr & Co, Bridge Street.   It then became Bishop, Potts, Carr & Parkin and was apparently connected with the partners in Staniforth, Parkin & Co.  Bishop apparently died in 1808.  By 1811, the style Bishop, Carr & Co (merchants and manufacturers, Carver Street) had been adopted, but within five years the business was insolvent.   The partners were Benjamin Vickers (possibly Benjamin Vickers) and William Anderson. The firm was listed as a merchant, factor, and table knife manufacturer until 1822.