Tyzack and Son Plasterers Leaf & Square Trowel

Joseph Tyzack & Son, Ltd., with its distinctive three-leg logo, was one of the most recognized Sheffield Tool manufacturers. Its good reputation has ensured the survival of its name to today, after many corporate mergers. As an independent firm, its product line was as broad as any tool and cutlery manufacturer, worldwide. Thomas Tyzack was said to have been one of the city’s hardest working businessmen (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 19 May 1923). He died on 18 May 1923, leaving £17,636, and was buried at Norton Cemetery. After his death, extensive alterations were made at Meersbrook Works and new plant was installed. The press stated that Tyzack’s relied particularly on Colonial markets and that it had 200 workers (Empire Mail, February 1927). The factory concentrated on plasterers’ tools. Other tools – such as spades and garden forks – were bought in from West Midlands firms. Cutlery products, such as this pruning knife, would have been ‘factored’ from other Sheffield manufacturers. In 1943, Thomas Tyzack’s descendants sold the business to Isaac Nash & Sons Ltd, Stourbridge, and Isaac Nash (Belbroughton) Ltd. This created Nash Tyzack Industries Ltd. In 1951, a further merger created Brades & Nash Tyzack Industries Ltd, with a nominal capital of £600,000. In 1960, Spear & Jackson acquired control. Two years later, Sheffield spade-maker Skelton was added to form Brades Skelton & Tyzack Ltd. Meersbrook Works employed about 190 workers. Tyzack continued as part of Spear & Jackson, until the latter was taken over in 1985 by Neill Tools. The Valley Road factory had been closed and sold in 1980. It has been renovated to provide workshops and offices. The Hawley Collection has a collection of Joseph Tyzack catalogues and other records. More info at

• https://hawleysheffieldknives.com/n-fulldetails.php?val=tY&kel=2392
• https://trowelcollector.blogspot.com/2016/06/history-of-joseph-tyzack-son-ltd.html
• https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Joseph_Tyzack_and_Son
• http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=3229
• https://archive.org/details/J.TyzackAndSon1940Catalogue71.1MB