Robert Winter (1805-1883) was born in Sheffield, the son of Robert (a scissorsmith) and his wife, Lydia.  The son followed his father’s trade.  The family business was based at Copper Street.  Winter usually employed less than ten workers, though in 1871 his employment roll included nine men, three girls, and a boy.   His son, Robert Jun. (1839-1911), was also a scissors manufacturer.  Robert Winter Sen. died on 10 August 1883, aged 78, and was buried at Burngreave Cemetery, leaving £2,142.   

The firm had been styled Robert Winter & Son since the early 1870s.  The firm advertised in The Foreign Buyers’ Catalogue (1895) and featured scissors and weavers’ shears.  In the years before the First World War, the business was located at Vine Works, Upper St.  Philip’s Road.  Robert died in 1911, aged 71, and was buried at Burngreave on 24 January.  Robert Winter & Son continued to be listed in St Philip’s Road until the early 1920s.  Robert’s widow, Henrietta, died in 1924, aged 78, which may have signalled the end of the family firm.  The trade mark was ‘2216’.