Advertisement from 1821. Image courtesy of Geoff Tweedale
John Brownill (variously spelled Brownhill or Brownell) was baptised in Sheffield on 21 July 1776, the son of James, a cutler. By 1821, John was listed in Hollis Croft as the ‘sole manufacturer of patent table knives and forks’. He advertised a ‘Thoro’tang’ table knife and fork, in which the handle was secured by a cap soldered to the end of the tang. Gell & Bennett’s, Sheffield & Commercial Directory (1821) featured a fold-out advertisement for this patent. In 1821, Brownill became involved in Thorpe, Wragg & Co. However, he died on 15 February 1822, aged 45, was buried at St Peter’s. He had been known as ‘Second-the-motion-Brownhill’, because of his propensity to second anything at Masters’ committees (Leader, 18761). This helped distinguish him from his brother, Jonathan. His widow and executrix, Elizabeth, issued a statement regarding the knife handle patent (‘originally granted to Jonathan Brownell’) and later assigned to John Brownell. She announced that as holder of the patent, she was determined to maintain her right (Sheffield Independent, 19 April 1823).
1. Leader, Robert E, Reminiscences of Old Sheffield (Sheffield, 2nd edn 1876)