Advertisement from 1919
The Medleys were razor grinders, who lived in Norton and included brothers Joseph (1848-1924) and Tom (1853-1915). Joseph’s son, Albert (1875-1948), later became the chief partner. A descendant, Michael Medley, has stated that the firm’s catalogues cited an establishment date of 1879. Certainly, Ford & Medley was active by 1900, when the firm registered a silver mark from 137 Arundel Street. Ford is not identified in directories and the Medley family has no information on him.
In 1908, the firm became a private limited company, as a cutlery and electro-plate manufacturer at 137 Arundel Street. No capital was disclosed, but William England, Woodland Place, Totley Rise, contributed £500 (Sheffield Independent, 5 February 1908). England was a brass founder and a Methodist (like Albert). The office and workshops were named Wizard Works and the firm used the brand-name ‘Wake-Knot’. It sold goods to ironmongers at fixed prices. The firm’s catalogues displayed table cutlery, electro-plate, and especially hollow-ground razors. During the First World War, Ford & Medley undertook government contracts. By the end of the War, the firm occupied Emu Works, which had frontages to Eyre Street, Matilda Street,and Eyre Lane. Albert was managing director, alongside another director, Harold W. Brown. The company trade marks were ‘EMU’ and ‘WIZARD’ and knotted ropes with ‘F M’. (‘EMU’ had apparently belonged to T. H. Wilson) Ford & Medley also acquired the ‘SELECT’ and arrow marks of Bingham & Ogden. The ‘ARROW’ straight razor became a Ford & Medley staple. However, the company became insolvent in 1928 and the stock and machinery were advertised for sale (Sheffield Independent, 3 November 1928). The assets were acquired by G. H. Froggatt, of Joseph Lee & Co. Albert Medley died in 1948, aged 73.