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A close-up photograph of a hand of a person holding a knife on a grinding wheel and creating sparks. The person's fingers on their hand are dirty and they have a plaster on their thumb. A close-up photograph of a hand of a person holding a knife on a grinding wheel and creating sparks. The person's fingers on their hand are dirty and they have a plaster on their thumb.
Story | 21 September 2023

Sheffield Makes: William Whiteley & Sons Ltd

In this episode of Sheffield Makes, we visit William Whiteley & Sons Ltd and explore the world of scissor making.

 

Our guide, Andrew, talks us through the various processes involved in the construction of their scissors, from gold cutting sheers, Kevlar cutting scissors, to everyday household scissors.

Whiteley’s was founded in 1760, the company are a leading producer of industrial and professional scissors and shears, developing cutting solutions to match the latest materials in automotive, aerospace and many other industries. Each scissor produced by the company is still hand-made, assembled and tested by craftsmen, using the skill and techniques honed and handed down over centuries. Today, it is one of a number of scissor-makers in the city whose work spans a range of techniques and approaches.

Scissors by Whiteley’s can be found in the collection at Sheffield Museums.

Sheffield Makes is a series of short films about Sheffield makers, processes and products produced within the City of Sheffield and surrounding area.

 

 

See more from our Sheffield Makes series here

 

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