A Visit To Sheffield's Kelham Island Industrial Museum

[Jack Black]

According to G.H.Lloyd's The Cutlery Trade (London 1913), between 1830 and 1840, four out of five grinders died between the ages of 20 and 39.

in 1865 the average age of death of scissor grinders was 32; edge tool grinders, 32; and table knife grinders, 35.

 

[Jack Black]

Man I cant wait to get there Jack, in a weakening moment I almost feel sorry for Sue getting so bored while we are looking at knives..
but anyway back to Sheffield knives..lol

Hey Sarah, I may disappear, but there may be - to the very lucky - who think they may have seen me at the local flea markets buying up all the old knives, and disappearing again, leaving Jacks shopping days very dull and boring.

I've had a good couple of weeks on the markets, you can have free rein while you're here Duncan

Thanks for the virtual tour Jack, certainly a lot of history in that place, very interesting.

Thank you

 

[pinnah]

According to G.H.Lloyd's The Cutlery Trade (London 1913), between 1830 and 1840, four out of five grinders died between the ages of 20 and 39.

in 1865 the average age of death of scissor grinders was 32; edge tool grinders, 32; and table knife grinders, 35.

Those are the sort of facts that really help prevent any sort of wrong headed over-romanticism from settling in. Well worth noting and considering.

<drift> One of the most fascinating (note: I'm fascinated by boring things) books I've read for work in the past 10 years has been the book, "Sorting Things Out: Classification and its Consequences" by Bowker and Star. It's a sociological consideration of the International Classification of Diseases, whose history goes back through a lot of twists and turns to the London Bills of Mortality. According to the US Census in 1913, you could die of being "worn out". That actually makes sense to me. "Hysteria" has come and gone as a recognized disease.

We struggle with what makes a modern knife and what makes a traditional (we know it when we see it) and differences between small serpentine jacks and peanuts and, sadly of grinders dying in their 30s. If such things hold a fascination and if you have time to waste, it's a great read. Changed the way I think about collecting and history.
</drift>

 

[waynorth]

Jack, you have taken me to an amazing time and place with this thread. Thanks for all the hard work. I will have to make several visits to absorb even a part of all the info!
Astounding really, what people went through, to bring technology along to its current state

 

[Jack Black]

Those are the sort of facts that really help prevent any sort of wrong headed over-romanticism from settling in. Well worth noting and considering.

<drift> One of the most fascinating (note: I'm fascinated by boring things) books I've read for work in the past 10 years has been the book, "Sorting Things Out: Classification and its Consequences" by Bowker and Star. It's a sociological consideration of the International Classification of Diseases, whose history goes back through a lot of twists and turns to the London Bills of Mortality. According to the US Census in 1913, you could die of being "worn out". That actually makes sense to me. "Hysteria" has come and gone as a recognized disease.

We struggle with what makes a modern knife and what makes a traditional (we know it when we see it) and differences between small serpentine jacks and peanuts and, sadly of grinders dying in their 30s. If such things hold a fascination and if you have time to waste, it's a great read. Changed the way I think about collecting and history.
</drift>

Sounds like a fascinating read my friend

Jack, you have taken me to an amazing time and place with this thread. Thanks for all the hard work. I will have to make several visits to absorb even a part of all the info!
Astounding really, what people went through, to bring technology along to its current state

I'm very pleased that you've found it of interest Charlie, I very much hoped you would

 

[mike Berkovitch]

Wow this is an outstanding read and great time travel. I hope I'd get there sometimes.
I appreciate you placing TC Barlow in its correct surrounding.

Mike