John Roberts & Sons
A pen and pocket knife manufacturer, John Roberts was born in Sheffield in about 1800. A cutler of that name was based in Norfolk Lane in 1825, though he can be more positively identified after 1828 in Broad Lane. Besides pen knives, he also manufactured Spanish knives (daggers) and push-button automatic (switchblade) knives (Punchard & Fuller, 20121). In the Census (1841), he was enumerated in Siddall Street, living with his wife Mary Ann and their family, besides an apprentice. In 1851, he resid....
