Wilfred Cooper
When Wilfred Cooper (1851-1949) retired in 1935, aged 77, he claimed to have forged more pocket knife blades than any other man. He had been born in Sheffield, the son of Thomas (a cordwainer) and his wife, Julia. Wilfred joined George Wostenholm’s, aged seven, and was trained as a pen and pocket blade forger. He had no schooling, but later attended a Friends’ school at weekends. His first wife was Ruth, who died in 1899, and he later married Betsy. They lived at 179 Industry S....
