This enterprise manufactured electro-plate, razors, scissors, pocket knives, and table cutlery.  It was launched in 1860 by John Nodder (bapt. 14 February 1802-1877), who was the son of Alexander Nodder (a silver plater) and his wife, Sarah.  John became a master Britannia metal smith.  Nodder’s was based in New Edward Street and Rockingham Street.   In 1865, it had moved to Taranaki Works, Dun Fields, off Shalesmoor.   The partners were John Nodder and his sons, Alexander Smith Nodder (1832-1895) and Joseph Nodder (1840-1899).   Alexander withdrew in 1868.  He became a coal and firewood dealer.  A spell as an insurance agent, led to an even longer spell serving 15-months’ hard labour in Armley Prison, Leeds, for insurance fraud (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 1 May 1880).

In 1868, Nodder’s advertisement described the firm as ‘late of Rockingham Street’ and illustrated its ‘patent indestructible infant’s feeding bottle and breast exhauster’.  In 1871, 24 workers were on its rolls.  John Nodder died at his residence, Fir View, Walkley, on 4 January 1877, aged 74.  His unconsecrated grave (which also contains the remains of his wife, Maria, who died in 1880, aged 76) was in the General Cemetery.  He left under £100.   Joseph Nodder continued the business.  

In 1874, Nodder’s moved from Dunfields to ‘more commodious’ premises at 140 New Edward Street.  An auction offered for sale shafting, fly press, dies and moulds for teapots (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 10 October 1874.  However, the new premises seem to have proved too commodious and in 1877 rooms with power were offered ‘To Let’.  In 1881, Nodder employed ten men, six women, three boys, and four girls.  In 1884, the whole factory at 138 and 140 New Edward Street was offered for sale or rent.  It had offices, workshop, warehouses, burnishing, spinning and other rooms, and an engine boiler and shafting.  After several attempts to sell it (it was once withdrawn at £325), in 1888 it was placed on the market at ‘an almost nominal reserve’.  Still it did not sell.  The leasehold manufactory remained unsold until 1889, when the price was knocked down to £100 (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 27 February 1889).  By then, Nodder’s had moved to Brookhill.  ‘Teetotaller preferred’ was the message in one ‘Wanted’ advertisement for a silversmith (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 6 March 1889).  

In 1897, John Nodder & Sons in Brookhill was registered as a private limited company, with £12,000 capital (£8,000 ordinary and £4,000 preference shares).  The list of directors was headed by Robert Cameron (1825-1913), MP for Durham, who was a Quaker.  He had visited Sheffield in 1896, when he was on the platform at a meeting arranged by Walkley Temperance Association, chaired by Joseph Nodder.  The other directors were Joseph himself; Charles Thompson, an ivory scale cutter at Canton Works, West Street; Charles Constantine Fargate, an ironmonger; and Charles Olivant, a butcher.  It was claimed that the balance sheet over the preceding five years showed a net profit equal to 15 percent.  Within days of the appearance of the prospectus in The Sheffield Independent, 10 July 1897, Joseph Nodder was dead.  He died at Parker’s Road on 13 July 1899, aged 59, and was buried in unconsecrated ground in the General Cemetery.  He left £1,248.  

Frank Askham Nodder (1867-1932) – Joseph’s son – took over the firm.  In September 1900, Frank acquired Victoria Cutlery Co, Richmond Works, Eyre Street, and registered it with his brother, Luther, as a limited company with £5,000 capital.  However, both Nodder’s and Victoria Cutlery were liquidated in 1900.  Frank became an accountant.  One of Nodder’s trade names was ‘OSMINIUM’.