In 1865, Stannington-born William Oates (c.1830-1909) advertised from the ‘back of’ Monmouth Street as a maker of sardine, Bowie, butchers’, glue, putty, farriers’, hacking, scalping, and pruning knives (and knife sharpeners).  He was briefly insolvent in 1869 (when he was described as William ‘the younger’, blade forger).  An advertisement in 1876 has him at Sardine Works, No. 5 Court, Leicester Street, and living in Wadsley.  He offered ‘Every Description of Knives to Open Australian Meat Cans; Hook Knives, and Knives to Open Sardine Boxes’.  His trade mark depicted a can-opener.   By 1891, William Oates & Co manufactured butcher, shoe, and table knives at Leicester Street.  He traded into the early 1900s.  He died in 1909 at Denmark Road, Heeley, and was buried at Underbank Chapel, Stannington, on 25 February.  His widow, Eliza, died in a workhouse in 1915.