© Ken Hawley Collection Trust - K.0421
This carbon steel table knife was probably made in the late nineteenth century. However, Howden was not a name associated with the Sheffield cutlery trades, though Howdens were prominent in tool making.
The likeliest explanation for the name ‘S. S. Howden’ is that the knife was commissioned and retailed by Samuel Scott Howden (1810-1889). He was born in Sheffield, the son of Thomas (a saw maker) and his wife, Mary. In 1836, Samuel Scott married Martha nee Renwick. By 1841, he was established at Manchester as a saw maker, living at Cooper Street. He was later described as a saw, plane, tool, and file manufacturer and ironmonger. His sons, Samuel and Robert, were also active in the business. In 1862, S. & R. Howden, saw makers and ironmongers, was dissolved, as regards Robert.
In 1871, Samuel Scott told the Census that he employed a boy and thirteen men. In 1886, S. & R. Howden at Levenshulme Road (Gorton), Oxford Street and Shudehill in Manchester, was dissolved and then filed for bankruptcy. (Samuel Scott did not always use his middle name, so it is unclear if this venture involved him, or his sons alone.) Samuel Scott Howden died at Hyde Road, Gorton, on 24 March 1889, aged 79. He was buried at Manchester General Cemetery, leaving £134.