Ken Greenberg asked about a chisel:

>This one is marked Brades Co Cast Steel. A quick web search turns
>up a little info (19th century) but not much more. So a little 
>help from you chisel knowledgeable folks, if you please. Probably 
>English ...

Tony Seo's citation of an 1818 Birmingham listing is, likely,
related to the firm which made this chisel:

"Hunt William & Sons, Brades Steel Co.'s Warehouse, Colmore Row"

My information on this firm, and its products, is still very
sketchy, but I believe it was in fairly continuous operation
until, at least, 1915 (latest directory I have available). 

As far as I've been able to determine, the company was listed as
being coal and iron masters, as well as steel manufacturers/
refiners, in the "Brades," Oldbury, as early as 1828. Regarding
edge tool manufacturing, the earliest listing I've found is for
1835:

  "Hunt William and Sons, scythe, hay and straw knives, and
   general mechanical and edge tool &c. manufacturers, Brades
   Steel Works [Oldbury]."

I agree with Bugbear that most of their input was, likely, 
"heavy" edge tools, similar to other firms such as Gilpin and 
Whitehouse. But, enough "light" edge tools have survived to
confirm that they made them as well.

By 1830, their Birmingham warehouse had moved to (52) Ann
Street, where it remained until, at least, 1875. The firm
became a Limited company by 1892, and their Birmingham 
warehouse was being listed at 7 Whittall Street - where it
remained as late as 1914.

>From 1896 on, the company was listed as:

  "Hunt William & Sons, The Brades Ltd., Brades Works"

There is still much to sort out, but my general impression
is that their works continued to be in Oldbury through much
of their tenure, and, concurrently, they maintained a ware-
house in Birminghm for most/all of the same time. They also
had a London office by 1899.

Hope this helps a little.

Don McConnell
Knox County, Ohio

		
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