Well I had another look around Sheffield Y'day. Even though my last two trips were disappointing, I do not want to give up on Shef, as it's steel and cutlrey trade facsinate me and I want to see as much as possible. I know this is not UE as such, but here it is anyway...
The Albert works is the last forger of cutlrey in both Sheffield and the UK. So, that makes them the last company making cutlrey the proper way, as the cheap crap is just stamped out on a press. I poked my head in the door and got talking to the foreman. After explaining what I do he was really good to me, taking me round and showing me the process from the pattern stores to the warehouse. Most of the machinery is decades old, and the whole works has changed little in the past half a century.
After the lads had finished dinner, the large hammer started up again which was great. The hammer stamps the rod into a rough knife shape, which is then stamped into shape and tempered. Seeing (and hearing!) the hammer going was a great thing to witness, something from a time gone. I left with a unfinished and finished second knife as a souvinere of my visit!! Top trip!!
The Albert works is the last forger of cutlrey in both Sheffield and the UK. So, that makes them the last company making cutlrey the proper way, as the cheap crap is just stamped out on a press. I poked my head in the door and got talking to the foreman. After explaining what I do he was really good to me, taking me round and showing me the process from the pattern stores to the warehouse. Most of the machinery is decades old, and the whole works has changed little in the past half a century.
After the lads had finished dinner, the large hammer started up again which was great. The hammer stamps the rod into a rough knife shape, which is then stamped into shape and tempered. Seeing (and hearing!) the hammer going was a great thing to witness, something from a time gone. I left with a unfinished and finished second knife as a souvinere of my visit!! Top trip!!
