George Wilkin (1817-1890) was apparently the son of William (a scissors smith) and Ann.  An engraving (1879) of George’s premises has an establishment date of 1825.  Apparently, George Wilkin was the bookkeeper listed in 1849 in Wellington Street; and enumerated in the Census (1851) as ‘Wilkins’, a manufacturer’s clerk, whose wife was Mary Ann, a scissors burnisher.   By 1852, when he advertised in the local directory, George Wilkin had acquired Broadhead, Hall & Co at Eldon Works, Eldon Street, as a manufacturer of scissors and shears.   By 1871, he was at Palmerston Works in Broad Lane and Garden Street.  Wilkin who lived in College Street (off Glossop Road), employed 37 workers (21 men, 13 women, and 3 boys) in 1871; and 11 men, four boys, and six girls in 1881.  

He died on 24 July 1890, aged 72, and was buried in Fulwood, leaving £273.  His son, George, took over, but died in Gerard Road, Rotherham, on 12 February 1892, aged 33.  His burial was at Fulwood.  Palmerston Works was auctioned.   The assets included a warehouse and office, six forgers’ hearths, a two-storey workshop, stables, six freehold houses, and the cannon mark ‘DEFIANCE’ (Sheffield Independent, 9 April 1892).  A. E. Furniss became the purchaser for £1,300.   Until about 1909, ‘Wilkin’ continued to feature in directories as a scissors manufacturer in Edward Street.   Apparently, Green & Green owned the name.  The ‘DEFIANCE’ mark was later associated with Pitts and Brooksbank.