This firm was a well-known optician and maker of scientific instruments.  It was established (according to its advertisements) in 1804 by John Priston Cutts, who was born in about 1787 in Leeds.  In 1820, Cutts was in partnership with Joseph Cam (see Cam & Birks), but the arrangement was dissolved.  He was listed in Norfolk Street in 1822, but by 1828 had moved into the former Division Street premises of William Greaves & Sons.   Cutts was also in partnership with James Chesterman in the manufacture of measuring tapes.  Cutts registered a silver mark in 1842.  In the late 1840s, John Sutton became Cutts’ partner and the firm expanded with a retail outlet in Hatton Garden, London.  In the 1850s, it also had an agent in Pearl Street, New York.   John P. Cutts, Broomgrove Crescent, died ‘very suddenly’ on 8 September 1858, aged 71.  He was buried in the General Cemetery, leaving £10,000.   John Sutton, South Street, Moor, died on 26 April 1859, aged 72.   He was also interred in the General Cemetery.

By the 1860s, the firm had premises in Division Street and High Street.  It advertised as opticians to Her Majesty and also sold a wide range of consumer products, such as dram flasks and game bags.  In 1879, it was also listed as ‘general factors of table and spring knives and electro-plate goods’.  Adams et al (1990)¹ has a photograph of an ornate Bowie knife made by I. P. Cutts & Sons for the South American market.  It has the words ‘Toledo Temper’ on the blades and the Chilean national emblem on the pommel (with the hallmarks of W. Briggs).  I. P. Cutts, Sutton & Son, Division Street and Surrey Street, ceased trading in about 1895.   One of the firm’s trade marks was ‘TRY ME’ (words), with the picture of an anchor.

^1. Adams, W, Voyles, J B, and Moss, T, The Antique Bowie Knife Book (Conyers, Georgia, 1990)