Staniforths had been cutlers since at least the sixteenth century.  This Staniforth business was apparently founded in 1849.  William Thomas Staniforth (c.1820-1890) was listed as a spring-knife maker in Norfolk Street in 1852.  He was involved in the activities of John Rodgers & Sons, which attracted a notable legal action from Joseph Rodgers & Sons.  In 1853, Staniforth was bankrupt.  Instead of paying his creditors, he sold his stock of cutlery cheaply and fled to Liverpool.  With four cases of cutlery (worth £400), he intended to sail for America.  However, he was caught and brought back to Sheffield (Sheffield Independent, 30 June 1855, 26 January 1856).  Staniforth relaunched his business at various addresses: Brown Street (1861); Baker’s Hill (1871), where he employed ten men and two boys; and Eldon Works, Eldon Street (1876).  In 1881, Staniforth was living with his family in Eldon Street and employing 20 men.  In about 1882, the business relocated to Ascend Cutlery Works in Arundel Lane (Industries of Sheffield, 1888).  William Thomas Staniforth (the founder’s son) increasingly took control of the firm.  It offered a full range of cutlery, but particularly high-quality pen, pocket, and sportsman’s knives (such as a novel cartridge knife depicted here).  Its first corporate mark – open wings above the word ‘ASCEND’ – was granted in 1852.  Another trade mark was registered in 1884:  it featured a two-blade pen-knife, with the words ‘VALUE RECEIVED’. 

Sheffield newspapers recorded the death of 70-year-old William Thomas Staniforth on 6 September 1890 at his home in Fieldhead Road.  ‘American papers please copy’, instructed his obituary.  He was interred in the General Cemetery, leaving £3,018.  On 22 March 1898, Sheffield Local Register reported the sale of the corporate marks (one granted in 1832) and exhibition medals of William Thomas Staniforth for £230.  The business was bought by John Walter Biggins (see Biggins Bros), who traded as Briddon Bros and W. T. Staniforth Ltd (which was registered in 1907 with £5,000 capital).  Silver marks for Staniforth’s were registered in 1902 and 1907.  However, Biggins was bankrupt in 1907, with liabilities of £16,000.