William Hukin (1875-1928) was from a family of razor grinders.  His father was George (1837-1884); his mother was Harriet.  Between 1917 and 1920, William worked at Smith’s Wheel, Sidney Street.  In 1920, he moved to Seller’s Wheel (see John Sellers), Arundel Street, when William Hukin & Sons Ltd was established (capital £4,000).  The partners included Alfred A. Dyson, a traveller.  William’s sons, by his wife Ellin, were William (‘Bill’) Joseph and Louis Bernard.  The former was born on 3 July 1904 and began work in 1917, aged 13.  Bill served a seven-year apprenticeship.  William employed about ten men and boys, but during the slump in the early 1920s only Bill stayed with his father and the firm was incorporated into John Sowden & Sons.  William died on 19 October 1928, aged 53, leaving £238.  Bill launched his own business, employing about three people.  When trade fluctuated, he turned his hand to other products, such as microtomes.  For fifty years, Bill worked at Sellers’ Wheel, then in 1970 moved to J. & W. Ragg, an old customer.  He retired from Ragg’s, aged 73.  As the last of the traditional razors grinders, Bill was often interviewed and filmed (Quality, March/April 1984; Jenkins & McClarence, 1989¹).  He died on 11 May 1994, aged 89 (information from Ken Hawley).

^1. Jenkins, C, and McClarence, S, On the Knife Edge (Sheffield, 1989)