Does the company T Williams of Smithfield and who sold Pipe brand knives still exist?

Answer 1

The Company of Thomas Williams of Smithfield no longer exists. Thomas Williams born in 1851 and died in 1918 was my husband's grandfather. The Company was founded in 1765 by the first Thomas Williams it was then passed to his son, Ebenezer, then his son, Thomas Johnson Williams, then to Thomas Williams (1851 - 1918) then his wife, Lillian, took over until his son, also Thomas Johnson Williams was old enough. The business finally failed about 1939. His brother was Denis Johnson Williams and my husband is his son. We have a butchers' knife made by the firm and also a set of butchers' scales which we recently purchased at auction. We also have a hard-back catalogue dating from c1900. It was a very successful business - they made everything for the butchers' shop, including scales, knives, meat cleavers, skewers, blocks, things for slaughtering animals, perishables, "The Silent Sausage Machine" was patented by my husband's grandfather and "The Champion" meat chopper. They also fitted out butchers' shops. The items are highly collectable, especially in Australia. The Company sold worldwide. What we don't have are any photos of the family and would dearly love to have a photo of Thomas Williams - my husband's grandfather. I have been researching the family history for some time and have obtained a lot of information from The Worshipful Company of Cutlers in London. I believe there was also another brother of Ebenezer's - another Thomas, possibly older and there is also a William Williams - possibly the first Thomas' brother. They are recorded at the Cutlers' Company.