SET OF 5 VINTAGE ENGLISH FAUX BONE HANDLE BUTTER, DINNER AND CARVING KNIVES

A VINTAGE SET OF 5 KNIVES MADE IN ENGLAND. ALL WITH CLASSIC YELLOW FAUX BONE HANDLES. SET INCLUDES 3 BUTTER KNIVES, ONE HARRIS MILLER DINNER KNIFE AND A FRANCIS GREAVES CARVING KNIFE.
 
MARKINGS:
ON BUTTER KNIFE: SHEFFIELD ENGLAND CUTLERY FIRTHBREARLEY STAINLESS
ON BUTTER KNIFE: GR (GEORGE REX = GEORGE V 1910-1936) JOSEPH ROGERS & SONS CUTLERY TO HIS MAJESTY STAR AND CROSS SYMBOLS OF QUALITY
ON DINNER KNIFE: STAINLESS STEEL HARRIS MILLER SHEFFIELD ENGLAND
ON CARVING KNIFE: FRANCIS GREAVES & SONS RADFORD WORKS SHEFFIELD STAINLESS STEEL
 
SIZE: BUTTER KNIFE LENGTH 20,0CM
DINNER KNIFE LENGTH 22,5CM
CARVING KNIFE LENGTH 31,0CM
 
CONDITION: VINTAGE WEAR VISIBLE STRUCTURALLY GOOD. WELL MADE VINTAGE KNIVES.
 
FRITH BREARLEY:
The originator of cutlery stainless steel was Harry Brearley (1871-1948), who was the director of the Brown-Firth Research Laboratories in Sheffield. In 1913, he discovered the rust-resistant properties of a steel low in carbon and containing about 12 per cent chromium. Firths and Brearley in 1917 formed the Firth-Brearley Stainless Steel Syndicate. This organisation issued licences for the supply of Firths stainless steel to cutlery firms. Thus FIRTH STAINLESS became one of the commonest trade names on stainless cutlery in the early twentieth century, sometimes with a cutlery manufacturers name, sometimes not.  Interestingly, Firths were using this mark as early as December 1914, as part of an advertising campaign for stainless table knives.  However, it seems that Firths did not register the name formally with the Company of Cutlers until 1924.

JOSEPH ROGERS & SONS (1682-present):
Joseph Rodgers & Sons was a famous firm of cutlers and silversmiths, which reached the height of its success in the late 19th Century.
Founded in Sheffield, England, the origins of the firm lie with Joseph Rodgers himself, who first began producing fine silverware in 1682. Although the history of the company's origins is a little unclear, by 1730 Joseph's sons - Maurice and Joseph - had taken over from their father and ran the firm.
At first, the company solely specialised in producing pocket knives. These knives were met with huge popularity, and in 1800 Rodgers' product range broadened into razors, table cutlery and scissors. From the beginning, Rodgers focused on producing the highest quality wares; each work was branded with the Rodgers Star and Cross symbol as a guarantee of its superb quality.
So great was the immediate success of Rodgers' fine silverware, that in 1821 the firm was appointed official cutlers to the British Royal Family. In fact, the company was appointed cutlers to five successive British sovereigns: George IV, William IV, Queen Victoria, Edward II and George V.
In 1871 the company became known as Joseph Rodgers & Sons, and continued to expand until it became the largest cutlery factory in the north of England. Yet despite Royal recognition and a blossoming overseas trade, the Rodgers & Sons could not escape the decline of Sheffield's cutlery industry. In 1986, The Egginton Group bought the rights to the Joseph Rodgers & Sons name and trademarks and today, Joseph Rodgers & Sons knives remain in production under the ownership of the Eggington Group.
 
FRANCIS GREAVES & SONS:
The founder was Francis Greaves (c. 1796-1844), who began table knife manufacturing in 1820.  During the 1830s, Greaves relocated to Radford Street, where he concentrated on cutlery.  Besides table knives, Greaves also pressed horn for handles and in 1840 registered a patent for an improved method of fastening knife handles of horn and hoof. His two sons Samuel Horrabin Greaves (1825-1876) and Frederick Greaves (1833-1900) eventually assumed control. Eventually the Radford Street business was managed by Fredericks son, Joseph Jonathan Greaves (1870-1953).  He led the firm in the interwar period. It remained there into the 1970s.  In 1984, Gunhill Cutlers & Silversmiths (Pty) Ltd acquired the name Francis Greaves & Sons of Sheffield.

HARRIS MILLER:
The founder, Harris Miller, was born in about 1875 at Koona, Russia.  He was Jewish and that he and his family apparently arrived in England in about 1900.  By 1911, they were in Sheffield.  In 1915 started his own cutlery business Harris Miller & Co. 
In 1925, Armin Krausz joined Miller as partner.  Two coterminous businesses were created: Harris Miller & Co at 51 Rockingham Street; and A. Krausz & Co at 49/51 Rockingham Street.  Harris Miller & Co / A. Krausz & Co expanded slowly in the 1930s.  
During the war, Miller and Krausz manufactured commando knives, besides many 24-inch machetes for the Far Eastern jungles. In 1950 Harris Miller died and Armin Krausz became the senior partner.  He shed his own trading name in favour of Harris Miller & Co. The firm became one of the largest producers of stainless cutlery, especially for hospitals, prisons, and other government institutions.  In 1950, the firm began the production of cutlery with coloured plastic handles, which Armin hoped would be a dollar-earning novelty in the American market.
In 1979, Harris Miller became a limited company.  However, the firm was unable to withstand the cutlery import invasion from the Far East.  Harris Miller & Co went into receivership in 1990 and was wound up.