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CLASS XXL
REPORT ON CUTLERY AND EDGE-TOOLS.
[The figures after the Names (between parentheses) refer to the Exhibitors’ Numbers and to the Pages in theOfficial Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue.]
Jury,
Right lion. Lord Whakncliffe, Chairman and Reporter , 28 Lower Brook Street.
Joseph B. Durham, Deputy Chairman , 456 Oxford Street; Cutler.
C. Karmarsch,* Zollverein ; Director of the Polytechnic Institution.
Alderman Charles Peace, Sheffield: late Cutlery and Edge Tool Manufacturer.
J. Le Play, France ; Engineer-in-Chief of Mining School, and Professor of Metallurgy , Paris .
Associates,
Thomas df. la Rue, 110 Bunhill Row; Ornamental Stationery Manufacturer. (Juror in Class xvn).Thomas Hethrington Henry, F.K.S., 18 Lincoln’s Inn ; Analytical Chemist.
James Ragg, Sheffield; Scissor Manufacturer.
C. Venables, Plomer Hill House, High Wycombe ; Paper Manufacturer. (Juror in Class XVII).
* Dr. Soiiafhautl; Professor of Metallurgy . (Proxy for M. Karmarsch).
The Jury for Class XXI. think it desirable to prefacetheir Report by some remarks on the extent and generalcharacteristics of the Class submitted to their judgment,and to offer such general comment and analysis as mayserve in some degree to present a connected view of theinformation therein conveyed, with respect to the pro-gress and position of this species of industry among thecountries whose contributions compose it.
There is one point upon which an explanation shouldbe given at the outset. Two important sections of thosearticles which would ordinarily be comprehended underthe designation of “ Cutlery,” are not here included—those of surgical instruments and of weapons of tear. Theobjects therefore referred to this Jury consist of such asare designed either for common and domestic use, or forvarious manufacturing operations.
It appeal’s, according to the information laid before theJury, that there are altogether about 368 Exhibitors inthis Class, distributed, very unequally, among twenty-two of the geographical divisions contained in the OfficialCatalogue. The United Kingdom , as was to be expected,has furnished a proportion amounting to not less than 45per cent, of the whole list; and among these are to befound many contributors, on so extensive and varied ascale, that its share in the total display of these articlesis much larger than the above numbers would imply.The second place is occupied by Austria , whose Exhi-bitors constitute 27 per cent, of the entire sum. Afterher the Zollverein States of Germany, furnishing about8 per cent.—France about 3 per cent.—Sweden andNorway in nearly the same proportion. A very smallnumber of Exhibitors from the remaining countries com-plete the list, though some of these national collections,however confined to few individuals, contain objects wellworthy of attention.
These results must not be taken as any certain indica-tion of the comparative proficiency of the respectivecountries in the production of commodities of this kiud,or of the value of their contributions. It is probable thatin some degree they may show the character and natureof the manufacture as carried on in these different states,and correspond with its subdivision among more or lessnumerous hands in comparison with its total extent. InAustria , for instance, we find by the Catalogue that thecollections specified as assignable to each Exhibitor con-sist for the most part of one kind of manufactured article,scarcely any of more than two or three; and we maytherefore perhaps venture to infer that the high numberof these, as compared with some departments where they
! are individually more comprehensive, arises from a verydifferent distribution of capital among their separate esta-i blishments in this branch of industry.
I But this is not to be considered as a disparagement to’ their contributions. Such a condition of the manufacture, may be best adapted to the supply of the particular! demand for which it exists; and, as regards the present| occasion, even apart from such considerations, the appear-; ance of a numerous list of exhibitors from any one! country may be reasonably taken as a gratifying evidence| of the interest and activity awakened there by the invi-tation to co-operate in a display of the works of universalindustry, and of an active desire to share in its honours.
The characteristics of the different national collectionsare, however, interesting in more than one point of view.
! We may detect in various instances indications of the' peculiar condition and habits of the people whence theycome, of their social and industrial wants and aims, aswell as of their natural or acquired advantages.
In England the close proximity of coal and iron,together with abundant facilities for converting the latterinto steel, gave, at an early epoch, to this branch of itsmanufactures remarkable energy and importance. Itssteel wares had a wide-spread reputation even in the, middle ages. The authority of Chaucer assures us that1 in the fourteenth century the “Sheffield whittle” was ani article of choice estimation; and, within their respective| spheres, the blades of Toledo and Damascus were scarcely: more valued than the more homely cutlery of England.
| This pre-eminence the Jury can have no hesitation in' pronouncing that she still retains to a very remarkablel degree in the present Exhibition; though the general1 statement must now admit of modification, and it wouldbe untrue and unfair to make it without adding, that shehas in certain branches of the manufacture some for-midable rivals. Still, the long-established trade of thiscountry in steel goods of every description, and herancient practice of forging them for the supply of alli markets, are shown in the great variety as well as excel-| lence of her contributions, which comprise specimens of■ almost ever)* conceivable article of this description. But! in other countries, where the manufacture has been ofmore recent growth, it is evident that the energies of; their artizans have been directed, by a natural conse-quence, to the production of those particular articlemore especially called for by their individual position orexigencies. One of the chief objects of the German Customs Union, for instance, has been to encourage thesupply from their own workshops of those commodities