<code> Thomas Marles, Sheffield fruit knife maker
41 Arundel Street, Sheffield
Thomas Marples (b.1832) was the son of Samuel Marples who was the landlord of the Stag’s Head, Psalter Lane — a pub that exists to this day.
By the early 1850s Thomas was making pocket fruit knives and registered a silver mark in 1855. Thomas was one of the few Sheffield cutler/silversmiths who concentrated on his speciality — even though he only had a small team, he became one of the most prolific of all pocket fruit knife makers.
Thomas Marples died in 1912 but the business continued and Thomas Marples pocket fruit knives have been seen with hallmark dates up to 1922.
Registered Maker’s Marks
Sheffield silver mark registered 1 February 1855, a similar mark was also registered with the Birmingham Assay Office.
It is unusual to fi nd pocket fruit knives with tortoiseshell scales made in the 1890s. This fine example by Thomas Marples with its chamfered edges and engraved bolsters was made in 1896.