Routing around in a cardboard box > Guide Knife and a T Ellin

Chui

Chui

Gold Member
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Jul 10, 2012
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- amazing what can turn up in a cardboard box!

I know very little about either except that they're not too common I believe.



The Guide Knife is rather nice, still in very good condition too

Guide%20Knife.jpg


Vulcan by T. Ellin & Co - lovely old thing, full of character

Vulcan%20T%20Ellin%20amp%20Co.jpg
 
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That guide knife is interesting, Chui.Please tell me, or shoot a closeup of the tang. I can't quite read it.
Thanks!!
 
Neat finds!

Goins' gives the dates 1846-1944 for Vulcan T. Ellin & Co (J Elliot from 1944-now). My guess is that it's probably from the 40s.

The other "Guide Knife" might be a UK "Girl Guide" knife. I can't read the tang stamp in your photo.
 
That is a beautiful Vulcan Chui :thumbup:

Your photo of the Guide Knife isn't showing currently (probably Photobucket I expect :( ). I bought an early Spearpoint model a few years back, with the whistle and belt, and have since picked up another with a Sheepsfoot blade. I also recently picked up a knife of the same pattern, but without the Girl Guide stamping.

EDIT Ah, the pic is back now :)
 
Where do you guys find these boxes and drawers and other such things? :eek: :o :D Great finds! :thumbup:
 
- thank you, Jake and waynorth :thumbup: :)


Here it is...

W. Mount
& Son
Sheffield
England



P1040956.jpg
 
The first Thomas Ellin was apprenticed as a cutler in 1771! :)

EDIT - Sorry, I am in error, he was born in 1771! :o
 
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I have one the same by Mount Chui. My others are by Nowill and Wragg. I'll see if I have any pics :thumbup:
 
- many thanks for the info, Jack :)

Couldn't find too much info at first looks myself, other than the T. Ellin was possibly quite old - guess this is likely a later one though (jigged bone..?)

Jeez.........there must've been hundreds of mesters/makers, I almost hear of a new one every other day
 
Chui-888 said:
- many thanks for the info, Jack :)

Couldn't find too much info at first looks myself, other than the T. Ellin was possibly quite old - guess this is likely a later one though (jigged bone..?)

Jeez.........there must've been hundreds of mesters/makers, I almost hear of a new one every other day
Click to expand...

Here's a bit more info :thumbup:

After their mother died in childbirth, the four Ellin boys were abandoned by their father. Their grandfather raised them, and apprenticed all four of them as cutlers, when they would have almost certainly gone to live with their respective masters. Thomas (1771-1845) was the eldest, and went on to be the most successful. He was apprenticed in 1785, at the age of fourteen, which the usual age to start a cutler's apprenticeship. He became a Freeman in 1792, and then became a partner with a table knife manufacturer, Joseph Oldale, whose daughter he married.

In 1810, the firm rented the water-wheel on the River Porter referred to in the piece I linked to above. According to Geoffrey Tweedale, Ellin was said to be the first cutler to use steam-powered machinery, and the first to use circular saws to cut ivory.

In 1821, Ellin dissolved his partnership with Joseph Oldale's son (the father having died previously), and established Thomas Ellin & Co (though 1784 was later given as the firm's date of establishment). The firm expanded, and Ellin was appointed Master Cutler in 1833, a position later held by his eldest son, Thomas II (1799-1847) in 1841.

As well as cutlery, Ellin's also made steel.

I seem to recall writing something about the history of the firm here before, possibly in the thread I linked to :thumbup:
 
- thanks once again, Jack..........really interesting stuff, eh!

So, the Ellin probably is fairly old, cool

Cheers :)
 
Chui-888 said:
So, the Ellin probably is fairly old, cool
Click to expand...

Probably post 1945, but that's pretty old :)

Joseph Elliot & Sons acquired the Ellin marks, whose Sylvester Works factory they occupied from 1926.
 
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