The original concern had two sides – cutlery and crucible steelmaking – and two partners: Thomas Sanderson and George Naylor (Callan, 1976).  Thomas Sanderson (1775-1836) purchased his Freedom in 1802.  His registration number was ‘2558’ (though he registered no specific mark).   George Naylor (1769-1841) also took out his Freedom at that time, registering a mark with symbols.  Naylor’s apprenticeship to his father (also named George) had been completed in about 1790, so possibly the Naylor & Sanderson cutlery partnership had started before 1800.   It should also be noted that the Naylors had been established as cutlers in Coalpit Lane, since at least the 1780s (see Samuel Naylor).

The first known Naylor & Sanderson premises were in Carver Street Lane, with access from Carver Street.   The business prospered and it was reinforced in 1802 with capital from two more Sanderson brothers, John (1777-1852) and James (bapt.1783-1853).   A file maker, Daniel Brammall (or Bramall) of White House, White House Lane (later Bramall Lane), also contributed capital.  It was stated that Sandersons ‘got up the most table-knives in the town, and cut their own bone hafts and scales’ (Sheffield Independent, 19 September 1872).   In particular, the business thrived on the American demand for cutlery, so much so that the firm protested to Parliament in 1811 about the disruptions to the US trade caused by the war with France.   According to George Naylor, his firm – which employed 250 hands in normal times – had been engaged in the American trade for about six years and exported about five-sixths of its manufactures to the USA (House of Commons, 1812¹).   Not surprisingly, the names of Naylor and Sanderson (together and separately) are two of the commonest on surviving examples of American table knives (and forks) in the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century.   

Stimulated by this demand, in 1814 Naylor & Sanderson built a works in West Street containing crucible steel furnaces.  In 1922, two partners – George Smith and Nathaniel Smith (d. 12 July 1841, aged 51) departed – leaving George Naylor and the Sandersons (Thomas, John, and James) to continue.  The cutlery business remained in Division Street, with George Naylor & Co listed as table knife manufacturers (1822) and William Naylor making pen and scissor knives (1828).  However, the steel side of the business expanded and during the 1820s it superseded the manufacture of cutlery.  Naylor & Sanderson had as its partners four members of the Sanderson family, two Naylors, besides William Stenton.  In 1829, the firm was reorganized as Sanderson Bros.   Interestingly, Sanderson’s competitor, Wilson, Hawksworth & Moss followed the same path from cutlery to steel, eventually becoming Kayser, Ellison & Co.   This firm eventually merged with Sanderson.   As Sanderson Steel, the firm survived into the 21st century as a tool steel maker.

^1. House of Commons, An Abstract of the Evidence Lately Taken by the House of Commons, against the Orders in Council (London, 1812)