Needham Bros, a spring knife manufacturer, was founded in 1851 by Edwin Needham (1821-1854) and Joseph Needham (1829-1898).  They grew up in Garden Street, the sons of Henry Needham (bapt.1791-1847), a spring knife cutler, and his wife, Ann.  Henry died of ‘decline’ on 1 January 1847, aged 55, and was buried in the General Cemetery.   His sons partnered Joseph Hawksley in Hawksley, Needham & Co, but this ended in 1852.  Edwin died on 27 January 1854, aged 32, from ‘brain affection’ and was buried in the General Cemetery.

Joseph continued Needham Bros with his other brother, William (1815-1901).  In the Census (1851), William was enumerated as a grocer in Milton Street.  In 1856, Needham Bros appeared in a Sheffield directory for the first time as a pen, pocket, and sportsman’s knife manufacturer at Hanover Works, Milton Street (with William also listed as a grocer in the same street).  In 1866, Needham Bros relocated to Commercial Works, Baker’s Hill.  This was in the same factory block as Mappin Bros.  Needham Bros continued to manufacture pen, pocket and sport’s knives.   These were stamped with the trade mark ‘REPEAT’ and were known for their high quality.   In the late nineteenth century, Needham’s knives were exported through the New York agency of Wiebusch (see B. J. Eyre and Monumental Cutlery).   An American visitor to Needham Bros in 1868, noted: ‘we saw table knives beaten out of the rough steel with such an astounding rapidity, passed from man to man, till the black shapeless lump was placed in my hand a trenchant blade, fit for service at the festive board … we saw invoices of handsome cutlery in process of manufacture for the American market’ (Guild, 1871)¹.  

In 1881, Joseph Needham stated that he employed fifty workers.  In 1896, Needham Bros was registered as a private limited company, with £7,500 capital, and Joseph Needham as its head.   He was also chairman of the Old Albion Brewery Co and a director of several other concerns, such as the Atlas Rolling Co.   It was said that he was ‘singularly gentle in disposition, generous and kindly disposed, [and] was incapable of making an enemy’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 20 May 1898).   He died from a stroke after a game of bowls and whist on 18 May 1898, aged 68, and was buried at Ecclesall churchyard.  A Congregationalist at Mount Zion Chapel and a Free-mason, he left £14,454.

Needham Bros continued under William Needham, who lived in Glossop Road, and Francis Needham (1844-1908), who was Edwin’s son.   Francis took over after the death of William on 12 November 1901, aged 86 (he left £3,009).   In 1900 and 1901, the company registered silver marks from Baker’s Hill, where it shared the works’ tenancy with Mappin Bros and A. J. Jordan.   However, in 1903 the freehold of the Baker’s Hill factory (Queen’s Cutlery & Plate Works) was offered for sale.  The press notices provided a snapshot of the factory layout and plant (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 17 March 1903).   Needham Bros moved to Matilda Street and re-registered silver marks in 1903 and 1906.

Francis Needham, Collegiate Crescent, died on 14 September 1908, leaving £1,033.  His son, Edwin George Needham (1874-1916) became chairman until his death on 14 December 1916.   A ‘well-known baritone singer’, he left £1,527 and was buried – like several of the Needham family – in unconsecrated ground in the General Cemetery.  Francis Joseph Needham (1880-1960), another son of Francis, was the next family member to manage Needham Bros, which remained at Matilda Street after the First World War.  Another silver mark was registered in 1920.  However, in 1932 during the Slump the business was wound up by F. J. Needham.  It was resurrected before the Second World War, though no longer ‘Ltd’.   After the War, Needham Bros’ address was Sidney Street, but it ceased trading after about 1951.  Francis Joseph Needham left only £200 on his death on 8 March 1960.  Slater acquired the ‘REPEAT’ mark. 

^1. Guild, Curtis, Over the Ocean: Or, Sights and Scenes in Foreign Lands ((Boston, 1871)