Established in 1863 at Crescent Cutlery Works, Carver Street, this pen, pocket, pencil, and rule knife manufacturer had moved to Burgess Works, Burgess Street, by 1865.  In 1868, the address was Cemetery Road.  In the  Census (1871), John Holmes was a 29-year-old spring knife manufacturer in Washington Road, employing eight men and two boys.  His office in the late 1870s was Holly Works, Holly Street.  In 1881, he employed twenty men and one woman.  Holmes remained in Holly Street until about 1902, but then moved to Matilda Street.  He lived at Sunny Bank.   He died in Chantrey Road, Woodseats, on 25 March 1908, aged 66.   He left £429.   ‘John Holmes & Co’ reappeared in directories between the 1920s and 1951 at Mowbray Works of John Clarke & Son.