David F. Lucier asked (in part):
> ... I have a polled adze and I can't seem to find anything
>out about the maker. Having gone and checked the usual (and some unusual)
>haunts for inspiration, I'm stumped. The stamp is pretty deep and in an
>arc with the top of the arc towards the eye. Below the name is a large
>stamped numeral 1. It is laminated. Has anyone ever heard of them?
The earliest listing I'm aware of, for Ebenezer Parker, is a 1787
Sheffield directory entry as a "Factor and Manufacturer of Table
Knives and Forks, Lascar Knives, Knives for the African & Quebec
Trades, Deals in Blistered and Faggot Steel, Eyre-Street."
Then, from 1822 to 1847, an (other?) Ebenezer Parker is listed as
a merchant, later as a table knife manufacturer, all at "Little
Sheffield." The direction of the firm seems to have changed by 1849,
when Ebenezer Parker is listed both as a Merchant and Table Knife
Manufacturer, in Ecclesall Works, 245 Rockingham Street.
By 1852, the name of the firm has changed to Ebenezer Parker & Sons,
at the Ecclesall Works, 245 Rockingham Street address. The firm
continues to be listed as "Merchants and Manufacturers of Table
Knives" until 1862. (By 1858, the firm had established an outlet
on Lionel Street, Birmingham, and is there described: "Merchants
and Manufacturers of Pocket Knives, &c.")
In an 1867 listing, their Birmingham address has changed to 12
James Street, St. Paul's Square, and the firm is listed as
"Merchants (& at Sheffield), Manufacturers of Files, Saws,
Steel & Table Knives ... ." In 1875, the firm is described as
"File & Rasp Makers and Cutlers, [&] Merchants" in a Birmingham
directory. Then, in 1879, the Sheffield directory describes
them as "Mfrs. of steel files, saws, edge tools, table and
spring knives, razors, &c., Merchants," still at the Ecclesall
Works, 245 Rockingham Street (and James Street, St. Paul's,
Birmingham). An 1881 Sheffield listing describes the firm as
"Manufacturers of steel, &c."
Then, there is a twenty year blank in the information available
to me. From 1901 until 1911 (last availabe Sheffield directory),
The Ebenezer Parker & Sons firm is listed simply as Cutlery
Manufacturers, at Milton Works, 80 Milton Street, Sheffield. It
may well have continued for some time after the 1911 date,
but doesn't seem likely to have been making or marketing edge
tools during this latter period.
So, to recap, likely dates of manufacture would seem to be from
circa 1852 to 1900, with the mid-1860's to the early 1880's
being the most likely. Based on current data.
Needless to say, I'm presuming that your adze is, or could be,
marked "Ebnr. PARKER & Sons." If that is not the case, then it
remains something of a mystery.
Don McConnell
Eureka Springs, AR
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