A silver mark, HJ&Co, was registered by Howell, James & Co, silversmiths, Regent St, London. However, as this company had gone out of business by 1911 and the knife we have has a stainless blade, we believe that H.J. & Co. refers to Howells department store, Mary Street, Cardiff.

This family business was set up by James Howell in 1865, and by the 1890s he had a large store stretching from Trinity Street to Mary Street. After his death the family extended the store becoming a limited company and traded until the 1960s.  The store eventually became part of the ‘House of Fraser’ group in the 1970s and despite takeovers is still trading in 2020.

If you have any further details on this mark please share them with us via enquiries@hawleytoolcollection.com