We think this knife might have been made by Arthur Mason, born 1869, in Sheffield, the son of Henry and Mary Mason. The 1871 census shows his father to be working as a spring knife cutler and the family living at 120 Cemetery Road.  Ten years later the family were living at 96 Scotland Street, next to the Essex Cutlery Works.  By 1891 Arthur had married Ada Jubb, was working as a spring knife cutler and was living at 146 Lancing Road.  Arthur continued in the same job, living at 163 Fitzwilliam Street, adjacent to the Beehive Cutlery Works (1901) and later moving to 151 Lancing Road (1911).

By the time the 1939 Register was taken (i.e. prior to the onset of WWII), Arthur had retired and they had made another move to 131 Pomona Street.

Arthur died 1940, aged 71, Ada died seven years later, aged 77.

If you have any information about the knife or the maker, please share it with us via enquiries@hawleytoolcollection.com