A Victorian silver-mounted glass claret jug, W. & G. Sissons, Sheffield, 1899

The origins of W. & G. Sissons, manufacturing silversmiths and platers of Sheffield, can be traced to the establishment in 1784 of Roberts, Cadman & Co., the senior partners of which were Samuel Roberts (1763-1848) and George Cadman (1760-1823). By 1841 this firm was trading under the style of Roberts, Smith & Co., with a London wholesale branch at 8 Duke Street, Adelphi. Roberts retired on 1 July 1848 after which the firm continued under the style of Smith, Sissons & Co., the partners being Evan Smith and William Sissons senior(1800-1881). Smith and Sissons retired on 6 November 1858 from which date the firm was continued by William Sissons junior (1831-1889) and his brother, George Sissons (1840-1878) trading as W. & G. Sissons. Subsequently converted into a limited liability company under the style of W. & G. Sissons Ltd., their business as manufacturing silversmiths was transferred in 1943 to a subsidiary company, Bell Reproductions Ltd.,¹ which was found necessary because ‘in recent years W. & G. Sissons Ltd., have developed in the direction of special Sheet Metal work in Stainless Steel, Nickel Alloys, etc.’²

‘Mr. Roberts had for his partner the late Mr. George Cadman, of Westbourne House, and subsequently the late Mr. Wm. Sissons succeeded to the business, which descended to his sons, Mr. Wm. Sissons of Brincliffe, and Mr. George Sissons of Broomhall Park. And now, from sire to sons and uncle to nephews the business taken a fresh lease of life under the management of Mr. Charles [1857-1914] and Mr. Walter Sissons [1858-1941]. The new partners continue to trade under the good old name [of W. & G. Sissons], and the best wish the young men can have from me or anyone is that they may worthily maintain the high character for honourable dealing which father and uncle kept throughout their long and successful business career. Thus one generation goeth out, and another cometh in. Good wishes, like Christmas bells, “ring out the old, ring in the new.” Good luck go with both!’³

Notes

1. The name of this firm derives from the familiar bell Trademark of Roberts, Cadman & Co. and its successors.

2. John Culme, The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Woodford, 1987, vol. I, pp. 419-420

3. Sheffield Weekly Telegraph, Sheffield, Saturday, 24 October 1885, p. 1d