Austin Nicholson (1858-1913) was the son of Vincent Nicholson (1822-1860) and his wife, Sarah Sims Robinson.  Vincent worked at James Dixon & Sons, where the Nicholsons were well-regarded silversmiths (Sheffield Independent, 25 February 1854).   Vincent died on 30 December 1860, leaving under £600.    By 1881, Austin was a cutlery ‘manufacturer’ at 38 Victoria Street.  He marketed pocket and table cutlery and butchers’ steels from Alledge Works (later named Rockhill Works), using the trade mark ‘MINSTREL’.  By 1901, Nicholson was an insurance agent and the cutlery firm passed to Jones & Longbottom.   Austin moved to Longsight, Manchester, where he died on 13 July 1913, leaving £1,351 to his widow, Ada.  The Minstrel mark passed to W. Burnell.