Britain at Work
A Pictorial Description of Our National Industries

116 BRITAIN AT WORK. After the forger comes the turn of the grinder. We have stated how the grinding “ wheels ” were formerly to be found clotted along the banks of local streams. A modern grinding “wheel” is quite a different affair, being usually a company undertaking, in which steam power is provided for a considerable number of sets of grindstones, the actual users of which work independently of one another and pay a rent to the company for the facilities provided. I hese grinders are, in fact, small employers, or “ little mesters,” -to use the vernacular phrase: they undertake to supply one or more cutlery firms with ground blades, and pay men and boys by piece to do the work. Only a few cutlery firms grind on their own premises. The blades, having been ground, are then lapped, glazed, and polished on emery and other stones, and taken to the cutler, whose duty it is to put the parts together and turn out a finished knife. The branch of the trade necessitating the most skill is that of the pen and pocket knife cutler. Many years of experience, accompanied by artistic taste, a correct eye, and nice judg- ment, are essential for the putting together of a high-class article. His parts consist ot blades, springs, linings, pins, and any special articles which may be wanted—such as cork- screws, cigar-holders, buttonhooks, prickers, etc. Except in the case of the very largest firms these articles are produced from outside the factory, each forming a separate trade. There are old craftsmen whd have made nothing all their lives but corkscrews, springs, or some one of the other articles mentioned. The patterns of pen and pocket knives made in Sheffield number more than 10,000, and the prices range from 4c!. to five guineas each. The making-up of table knives is a more simple affair. Many kinds of material are used for the scales of spring cutlery and the hafts GRINDING- TABLE KNIVES. (Photo kindly supplied by Messrs. Mapp in & Webb, Sheffield.)