| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Frewen Feltmaker |
proper scissors (pictures and a long post though)I just got this from the Heritage crafts associaton and thought I would share it here as I will be buying a pair of these scissors.
Nick Wright is the fifth generation of Wrights in the Sheffield scissor-making business (now trading at Kutrite). Though his team continues to produce hand crafted products of the highest quality, sadly the availability of cheap, mass-produced scissors has meant that they are currently short on orders and working a three day week. 
As a result, Nick is hoping to market some scissors directly rather than selling everything wholesale. He has agreed to do a mail order service for supporters of the Heritage Crafts Association for one of their most popular lines: 8 1/4" dress making shears. These tools are a gorgeous piece of engineering ... and great value for money at only £20 plus £5 post and packing. 
The difference between these and a cheap pair of scissors is that these are drop forged out of high carbon steel then hardened and tempered to give a very tough and hard long lasting tool. The other big difference is the setting. On a pair of cheap modern scissors the two blades never actually touch; they lie parallel to each other and do not cut as a pair of proper shears do. The two blades are skilfully ground and set in a slight curve so that they always touch just at the point you are cutting. 
So here we have the perfect gift for anyone who has ever been frustrated at the lack of quality in modern tools. For just £20 plus £5 post and packing you can have a little bit of Sheffield history and help to keep this wonderful trade going for a little longer. At the moment Nick does not accept PayPal or credit card payments so to order the scissors please send a cheque made payable to 'Kutrite of Sheffield Ltd', including your address and a note asking for 8 1/4" dress making shears to: Kutrite of Sheffield Ltd Kelham Works 72 Russel Street Sheffield S3 8RW |
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| marigold |
Frewen Feltyperson, you stand accused of wilfully and cruelly placing wicked temptation before poor weak-willed downsizers who are trying hard to stick to a "no spending" challenge  . How do you plead? 
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
Guilty as charged your honour - I have no mitigation and no shame either
I am off to write a cheque right now
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| marigold |
I am most awfully tempted, not least because my old dressmaking shears don't really do the job properly any more, so I can sort of justify the purchase on the grounds that I do really need some. I will wait for your personal hands-on review of the product though  .
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
I will let you know 
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| Fee |
Tempting, but I worry that they would go the way of all scissors in this damned house!!! Where do scissors go?? I blame the sock monster. | ||||
| woodsprite |
Does he do lefties? | ||||
| Effie |
Ok, I'm excusing these from buy nothing new challenge on the grounds they are supporting an endangered, UK producer. And I have a thing about rubbish scissors. |
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| tahir |
We bought some cutlery of www.glazebrook.com similar story. We got what I thought was an astoundingly good deal. | ||||
| tahir |
We don't need any scissors or I'd buy some, what I do need is a decent penknife with a 3" (ish) blade, stainless and preferably locking.
Good UK source? |
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| Nik |
Got my penknife from the local shooting shop, just as you say about 3" long and locking. Only downside... made in Germany! | ||||
| tahir |
German and Swiss ones are easy to get hold of. |
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| alice |
I saw these on another forum, I've already sent my cheque away
I really shouldn't be this excited over a new pair of scissors 
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
I imagine they would - got to be worth an ask 
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| robin wood |
Thanks for posting this here. I can answer a few of the questions. They do lefties but this offer is only for righties I am afraid. It is a way of them dipping their toes in the retail market and if it is successful no doubt they will be offering their lefties and their other 139 designs of scissors. It may be too little too late though, they are currently working a 3 day week and loosing money.
Good source for British pen knives? Most traditional British penknives have always traditionally been carbon steel rather than stainless are you working in salt water or do you tend to leave it wet? My favourite Sheffield maker is Trevor Abblett one of the last chaps working on his own and making all the knives himself. http://www.sheffield-cutlery.com/pocketknife.html I am visiting Trevor next week and we hope to be able to do a similar offer to the scissors one where all the money will go direct to the maker. here is a stainless Wostenholm http://www.madeinsheffield.com/view_item.asp?productid=1123&pr=0 |
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
Will you keep me posted - because if he does do a similar offer then I will get penknives for my father and uncle and put them aside until Christmas
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| tahir |
Thanks Robin, will definitely be purchasing a made in Sheffield implement. I prefer stainless because I'm not very good at drying them off before I put em away, my old carbon steel one was always rusty | ||||
| nettie |
Ooo nice. What a great idea for Christmas pressies. | ||||
| tahir |
Have bought this one by Trevor Ablett:
Clip Point Blade Pocket Knife Double Brass Bolster 3/3.5" knife blade Buffalo Handle £19.75 + p/p (+ vat in EU) |
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| tahir |
And one of these by Joseph Rodgers
http://www.madeinsheffield.com/view_item.asp?productid=1123 (managed to lose 2 knives this year  )
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| tahir |
These people need websites of their own don't they? |
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| marigold |
I reckon a Trevor Ablett knife will do very nicely for my brother's 50th birthday pressie next year - thanks
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| robin wood |
Don't they just. When you are the last person in the country making a quality craft item and it is being sold on your name it seems crazy that Trevor is selling his knives wholesale at £10 for others to take the profit on. I hope maybe next week that we can offer a Trevor knife, no cheaper than the other retailers but it will be direct from Trevor so he will get the £25. |
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| tahir |
Excellent, whatever happened to us doing a banner for the Heritage Crafts Association? | ||||
| judith |
So if I buy from that link, does it mean that he only gets the wholesale price? If so, please let us know as soon as we can place an order with you. |
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| robin wood |
Yes the links I posted are retailers. You will never be able to buy from me or from the Heritage Crafts Association as a not for profit applying for charity status we won't be doing any trading. What we do hope to do is to help Trevor and others a little with their marketing and help set up individual deals where folk can buy direct. As with the scissors if we choose one product at a time then it makes it worth them doing a production run just as if they were doing a wholesale order.
These folk are all getting on and not likely to be setting up retail websites, what we hope is that we can encourage them to view the businesses as viable and to pass the skills on to the next generation. |
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| wellington womble |
I think you should change your username, Frewen! |
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| judith |
Ah, I see. I hope you are successful with your encouragement. Please do let us know when the deal is set up though; I will definitely be buying one. |
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| dpack |
what jobs do you need it for ? the shears look ace ,im tempted ,do you recon they would cut skins ? |
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| dpack |
sorry missed the later bit
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| James |
oh...they're beautiful. They remind me of the pocket knife my grand-dad used to have (now doubt from Sheffield...) |
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| Jonnyboy |
Robin, if/when a direct sale is available through the way you propose can you post in huge capitals, I'd love to get one if I can make sure the money goes to him. |
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| robin wood |
Will do | ||||
| Frewen Feltmaker |
bump
my scissors are here - they're very nice and in their own box and everything... I shall get the camera out and take some pics in a mo
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| oliveoyl |
Another customer for an Ablett pocket knife if he's going to sell some from here.
Robin... could you give me a nudge if/when the sales thread is up please. |
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
I am really pleased. They are a beautiful pair of scissors - no one else in my house can use them , they're all mine
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| oliveoyl |
I recently started a machine embroidery course and, after a bit of pig's-ear type hacking with the kitchen scissors, decided to order some of these... thanks Frewen... they really are splendid! | ||||
| Nell |
*drool* guess what is on my christmas list
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
Do tell us more about the course - I love hearing about what other people are learning (and see what they are doing too )
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| oliveoyl |
It's C & G level 2 - the beginners course... I haven't done any sewing since some very basic stuff at school so I've a lot to learn.
The course is largely about producing a portfolio of samples showing the various techniques... we do have to make 2 pieces during the course but I don't know what they are yet... will post pics - unless I make a mess of them. I'm a bit behind because everybody else in my class, without exception, has had years of sewing experience... I had to be shown how to thread the machine  Luckily the tutor is very helpful and really wants everyone to do well so is allowing me to jump in with other classes to catch up.
I love looking at other people's work too... I'm hoping to go a big exhibition next month in Harrogate. |
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| The.Grange |
within the 139 other designs does he make pinkin shears? i'd be interested in a good quality pair |
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| Momghoti |
Web SiteHi! I joined Downsizers specifically because of this thread--I love sewing toys, and well-made artisan items, and keeping skills alive and....well......all three together?...oooooh, shiny . It just so happened that I dropped my nice shears and nicked the blades(don't try cutting satin with nicked scissors. Just...don't.) and decided that since I really needed a new pair, I definitely needed a pair of these. But, since the thread was a bit old I wasn't sure about the offer, and I set out on a web hunt, to find out how to get ahold of a pair. I found (drum roll, please) http://www.ernestwright.co.uk ! Apparently, the mail order offer 'tested the water' and was successful enough that they had a new web site designed, and I ordered a pair of scissors from them. I haven't received them yet, but I'm waiting with baited breath. I really like that I can order from them directly, so they can get the full profit. Thanks everyone for bringing them to my attention--I would have never found them otherwise. |
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| Jamanda |
Hello there. Welcome to the forum.
I hope you have fun with your new scissors
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| sean |
Welcome aboard. Is that ghoti as in fish?
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
Thank you for the link
I am doing a little happy dance and wondering how long it will be before I can get more scissors from them
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
Oooh look - left handed scissors and poultry shears and hair cutting scissors...
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| judith |
Another thank you from me, Momghoti.
I have some birthday money and have been wanting some new dressmaking scissors for ages... But now I am confused as to what size to buy. What do you reckon would be the best size for a fairly light shears user? Is there any benefit to the large size over the small? |
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
8" dressmaking shears are the most popular length
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| judith |
And indeed the cheapest!
Well. That was very straightforward.
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
'appy to oblige 
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| Mr O |
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