Archival history
History of Marples (taken from http://www.marples.co.uk/page2.html, accessed by MERL on 23/08/2013) - 'In the 1840’s Joseph Marples was one of several ‘Marples’ (most of which were related) in Sheffield manufacturing joiners tools, such as brass inlaid rosewood & ebony braces, boxwood spokeshaves, beech planes, gauges and squares. // The business has remained within the family to this date, and has been based in Sheffield since those early days. Although modern technology has been used in some instances, many of the traditions of manufacturing fine hand tools has remained the same using selected materials and hand finishing, indeed the same threads are used in the gauges as were used over 100 years ago. // It is evident that many Sheffield-made tools are stamped with brand names of commercial companies from elsewhere. This practice tends to obscure the fact that Sheffield in general - and Joseph Marples in particular - still plays a major part in the manufacture of high quality joiners tools. // A potted history. // The earliest recorded (so far) mention of ‘Marples’ is about the 1540’s, in Baslow, Derbyshire. There the family stayed until about 1750, when they moved to Sheffield. The years 1772 & 1774 saw the birth of two sons, William & Robert, both of whom were listed as Joiners tool makers. William’s son, William (b. 1809) was most likely the founder of the firm William Marples & Sons (also joined by George Marples), later becoming Record Marples. The other son Robert (b. 1801), produced the first of the long line of Joseph Marples (b. 1801). This Joseph being the founder of our company in 1840. During this period there were no less than seven Marples’ companies operating out of Sheffield, all somehow being related, very confusing. // The earliest of our factories was called York Works, and produced principally framed braces, one design was called the ‘Trial 1 Brace’ referring to the firms corporate mark. Since then a succession of Joseph’s have owned the company: // Joseph (b. 1834), Jos.Cooper (b. 1864), Jos. Edward (b. 1894), Jos. Ronald (b. 1924) and currently (me) Jos. Anthony (b. 1956), whether my son Jos. Samuel (b.1996) takes on the company remains to be seen! // In October 2001, we relocated the company to a new purpose built factory (called York Works), and have reintroduced the old Corporate mark, ‘Trial 1’ on a special, superb quality selection of tools.', Further history of William Marples & Sons (taken from http://www.wkfinetools.com/huk/marplesW&Sons/wMarples-index.asp, accessed by MERL on 23/08/2013) - 'William Marples and Sons, Hibernia Works - Sheffield, UK // Hibernia Works, the factory of Messrs. William Marples and Sons, edge tool manufacturers and merchants, is in Westfield-terrace, extending backwards to Rockingham-street. // The business was founded nearly fifty years ago (1830) by the father of the present proprietors, who early established a reputation for excellence of quality and superiority of finish which enabled him to build up a large business. The business has continued to increase under the energetic management of his sons, who have now one of the most extensive edge and general tool trades in Sheffield. The large extent of their manufactory in Sheffield is shown in our illustration. They have branch establishments in London, Liverpool, Germany, Canada, and the United States of America, and their goods are well known in all our colonies and in most other countries. // The specialty of the firm is the very large stock of goods they have always on hand. Their warehouses are filled with an assortment of tools of every known description, cutlery and general hardware of all kinds. They have, probably, the largest stock of tools of any house in the world, it being the endeavour of the firm to supply tools for every purpose for which they can be required. Their enormous stock enables them to execute the largest orders at a few hours' notice—this special feature of the business having contributed materially to the wide extension of their connections. // In addition to the stock of goods of their own manufacture, and of general English hardware, the firm import tools and hardware of all kinds from the United States, Germany, France, and other manufacturing countries, supplying from their extensive stores every diversity of tools and hardware that customers can possibly require.', List with photographs of the objects in this collection offered for donation to MERL that have been accepted., Set of images of associated docs and information (located in folder L:\MERL\Objects\Associated docs and photos relating to Joseph Bevan loaned by Jayne Traill Entry Form 406)., MERL Miscellaneous note - Associated information - The objects all belonged to the donor's grandfather, Joseph Bevan, who ran the farm at Ascot Place Estate. The farm was called Miltons Farm. Joseph Bevan, a cousin of Aneurin Bevan, was born in the 1920s and was originally from near Abergavenny, Wales. Before moving to Ascot, he farmed in Wales and in Shropshire - the donor estimates that he started farming in the 1940s. During and just after WW2, he had a lot of Italian prisoners to help on his farm. He moved to Ascot Place in 1967 and worked there until his retirement in 1985 or 1986. When Joseph Bevan arrived at the Ascot Place Estate, it was under the ownership of entrepreneur Clive Sinclair, and it was later brought by H. J. Heinz. // He kept cattle (but not dairy) and sheep, and occasionally did arable farming also. He won a ploughing match, about which there is a press cutting as it was considered unusual for a stockbreeder to have won. He was considered a local expert on sheep - other local farmers used to bring their flock to the farm to be sheared. He also used to look after other people's sheep and would usually get some lambs in return. The Welsh blacks he kept at Ascot Place were his own flock, as Mrs Heinz only wanted to keep white sheep. He kept Friesian cattle. Even after his retirement, he continued to keep a small flock of sheep until 2001, when he passed away., MERL Miscellaneous note - Jayne Traill Acquisitions - 'The hook knives were a constant item of use. The antler-handled knife was made either by Joseph Bevan or by his father. Bevan, according to the donor, always had in his pocket some binder twine and his folding hoof knife. The knife was used for removing stones from cattle and sheep hooves, and also for trimming them - sheep hooves are soft and become easily infected with rot.'
