This firm manufactured shoe, butchers’, cooks’, putty, glaziers’, and cane knives.  It began as Mottram & Hawkins in Carr Lane.  The partners, first listed in 1852, were Thomas Mottram, a table knife manufacturer, residing in Rockingham Street; and John Hawkins, living in Thomas Street.  Thomas Mottram (bapt.1821-1867) had been born at Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire, the son of James and Susanna.  Mottram & Hawkins exhibited at the Crystal Palace in 1851.   It advertised in the directory of 1852 from Carr Lane, Rockingham Street.  The firm then became Mottram, Hawkins & Needham, with a new partner, Robert Marsden Needham.  However, this partnership was dissolved in 1853, when Mottram withdrew.      

By 1856, Thomas Mottram was running his own business in Rockingham Street.  In the following year, he registered a patent for an improvement in knife handles.  Mottram advertised in the Sheffield directories of 1860 (Portobello Street) and 1868 (West End Works, Charlotte Street).  In 1861, he employed a dozen men and four boys.  However, in 1867 Mottram became bankrupt.  He died at his residence in Charlotte Street, on 28 November 1867, aged 47.   He left under £5.  His widow, Mary, inherited the business, but until her death in 1877 she was assisted by her sons, William Henry (1844-1897) and Thomas (1850-1893).  They continued the business at West End Works, Bolsover Street.  Towards the end of the 1880s, Mottram’s switched to selling steel, files, and general cutlery.   In 1893, Thomas Mottram & Co was at Howard Street, but it then became defunct.  Thomas was working as an engine tenter, when he died at Jessop Lane on 15 May 1893, aged 42.  William Henry became a draper and died at Lydgate Hill on 21 February 1897, aged 65.  The Mottram family grave is in the General Cemetery.  The trade mark was ‘ALL RIGHT’ (words later used by William Gregory.