Sheffield’s Best Brands - Spear And Jackson

In 1760 the foundations of one of the city's best known firms, and one synonymous with steel; Spear & Jackson, were laid.

It was in this year that a draper named John Love and a Wakefield merchant, Alexander Spear, decided that steel offered a better living than cloth and went into business together.

By 1814, the business had passed down to Alexander's nephew John, who took on an apprentice - Sam Jackson - to learn 'ye art, trade or mistery of sawmaking'. By 1830, he had obviously proved his worth as a new partnership was formed - Spear & Jackson.