Know anything about Richards cutlers?

[beechnut]

I worked at Richards in 1967-69 and I well remember the caretaker John Cassar - great bloke. So sorry to hear of his passing, but thanks hillsbro for sharing this information. At least John lived to a good age and was able to retire to his sunny homeland of Malta.

[suenjill]

I can remember Charlie Sharratt and Ted Wiggins from the warehouse.

[willybite]

Richards was founded in the 1930s by two German brothers whose names were actually Paul and Stefan Richartz. They came from Solingen in Germany (like sheffield a big cutlery manufacturing town) and they brought with them a skilled production engineer, Wilhelm Müller. The name of the firm was changed to Richards just before the Second World War. They mass-produced knives, scissors etc. which had the "lamp-post" trade mark. Their original factory was badly damaged in the war and in 1946 they moved to a new building at 55 Moore Street site - where Wickes is now. It was probably the largest cutlery-manufacturing firm in Sheffield, though the "traditional" cutlers tended to look down on them in view of their cheap, mass-produced output. My brother-in-law was caretaker there in the 1960s, by which time Müller was running the firm; I used to go with him on his rounds and I well remember the "rumblers" that lazarus referred to. Richards was bought out in 1977 by the Imperial Knife Company of the U.S.A. Richards closed in 1983 and the factory was demolished. Wilhelm Müller died aged 77 in 1982.

 

hiya

as regards richards at the corner of upper hanover st and broomhall st i remember it well when i was small,i dont think it was damaged during the war, and the new factory wasn't built for a few years after the war,the reason i know was when it was demolished, i happened to say to a workmate that it was a sign of getting old when you saw a building being built, and the same one being pulled down, his answer was that he worked on the building of it as an apprentice bricklayer in 1949, also the road at the bottom side of richards was bishop st running from fitzwilliam st to young st was ideal for roller skating as all the other roads around were all cobbles .

Edited January 20, 2010 by willybite

[beechnut]

I learned a little about the history of the firm during my 18 months there in the 1960s. Before the war, Richards had factories in both Broomhall Street and Soho Street (on the other side of Ecclesall Road). Both factories were damaged in the blitz and the decision was made to build a new factory. While this was being designed and built, the Soho Street factory was closed in 1945-46 and its production moved to a temporary factory near the Broomhall Street site - this is probably the move that "hillsbro" referred to. All the production moved to the new factory, which must have been ready for occupation in about 1949-50.

 

It was Young Street at the bottom of Bishop Street - if I'd noticed the smooth surface I might have had a go at rollerskating myself, though I suppose that by the time I was at Richards my rollerskating days were over and I was more interested in motorbikes!

[jonjo2]

hi there

i was born on bishop st and i remember going to the xmas parties, good old days they were great, st silas was a school

[capstan]

My Dad worked for Richards in the seventies as a Fitter l believe,l remember the christmas parties he took me to,still got quite a few penknives including a small one with a German 50 Pfenning coin in the handle.

[oldiegirl]

I can remember Charlie Sharratt and Ted Wiggins from the warehouse.

 

I worked for Ted in the warehouse from 1964 - 1969. I was one of the girls on the office table and gave out the wages on fridays.

I also remember that we used to have sing songs on fridays as well. it was a lovely atmosphere and very friendly people.

I also remember that when there was an urgent delivery Ted used to ask us to join one of the tables and card up the pen knives.

almost every girl that married while working at Richards had a full set of cutlery. Ashamed to say that Mr Stefan did not know about it, or if he did he turned a blind eye. I remember Mr Muller , who used to shout that much a vein stood up on his neck and looked like it was going to explode but was still a very nice person. I remember John Casser caretaker and the photo brings back memories. He always drew a red line on the signing in sheet when it was 9-00 and woe betide the staff who signed in after that red line. thoroughly enjoyed working there and only left to have a baby.

[robdawtry]

Richards of Sheffield opened in the 1930's by 2 German men Mr Muller and a business partner. it closed in 1983, the site now being occupied by Wicks.

Richards also owned rogers wostenholm who by the 70's were located at heeley bottom. in the late 1970's the business was acquired by Imperial Knife Group who produced, amongst other brands Schrade and Stag cutlery in Ireland. the business failed initially in 1981 owning the site, plant etc. the companies debts were paid off and a previously unknown organisation ran the business but leased both site and most plant. it then closed finally in 1983.

I worked for Richards from 1977 to 1983, my first job. i started work in the drawing office, Gordon Stewart - Stanley being works engineer. post 1981 i ran both plating shops.

 

---------- Post added 01-03-2015 at 19:34 ----------

 

my dad was a barrel plater at richards for approx a good dozen years to its demise in the mid 80's

 

i must know your dad, i managed the plating shops 81 - 83, Remember Vic Roberts who used to run the barrel line

[cuttsie]

Hi lubylou - the caretaker was John Cassar. He was Maltese by birth and a good worker. At first he was in the joiner's shop at Richards but when the caretaker's job (and flat) became vacant early in 1962 he took the job. He and my sister were there until 1970 when they moved to Skegness with their two children to manage a caravan site. After John retired he went back to Malta, and I'm sorry to have to say that he died suddenly there of a heart attack on 13 June this year, aged 80. He and my sister divorced in 1977 but they remained good friends, and my mother thought the world of John. Here is a picture of them both taken at my mum's bungalow in Wadsley in August 2005: http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/twigmore/MumJohn.jpg

My old car no plate popped up among that lot Hillsbro.

[Dark Night]

I used to work for a mark making firm and remember around 1965 making a stamp for 'Richards Bros Sheffield England' I believe that there was an old street lamp within the stamp.

Bearing in mind this was about 50 years ago.