This is a confusing business to trace, because in directories ‘Dickinson’ was sometimes spelled as ‘Dickenson’ and ‘Rollisson’ as ‘Rollison’.  The partnership was launched by 1818 as a cutlery dealer, factor, and table knife manufacturer in Sheffield (Pea Croft) and Birmingham.  An advertisement appeared in the Sheffield General &  Commercial Directory (1821) with an elephant trade mark (picture).  John Dickenson, Steel Bank, was one partner; Charles Rollisson, Bridgehouses, was the other.  (The latter’s full name was Charles Rollisson Street.) The business was not listed after 1828 and in 1832 the partnership ended. 

By 1833, Dickenson and Rollisson were operating separately as a table knife and razor manufacturers in Edward Street and 88 Pea Croft, respectively.  Rollisson was bankrupt by 1835.  He then became, in turn, a grocer, bookkeeper, and hardware warehouseman.  John Dickenson was described as a ‘cutler’ at his death in Whitecroft on 27 November 1848, aged either 65 or 68.  He was described as the son-in-law of the late William Jervis, Whitecroft.  He was buried in St Peter’s churchyard.  Charles Rollisson, a clerk at Castle Hill Works (see Hiram Cutler), died on 15 June 1853, aged 60.  He was buried in Ecclesall.