A fine quality 19thC brass cased steel triple shank fleam in good condition.

A fine quality 19th century vetinerary brass cased steel triple shank fleam manufactured by GEO (GEORGE) BUTLER & CO of Trinity Works, Sheffield. 

The company moved from Trinity Street to a new address in 1864.

The fleam is in good condition.

The business was established by John Butler in the late 18th century.

In the 1840s, however, the Butler connection with the business waned.  First, William Charles Butler died on 16 January 1837, aged 25 (he was buried in Portobello).  In 1839, James Butler Jun. withdrew from the business (possibly he died, too).  Then the senior partner James Butler, Western Bank, died on 3 March 1843, aged 57, and was buried in St. Paul's graveyard.  Joseph Wolstenholme was executor and trustee.  Later Butler advertisements carried a portrait of James Butler as a trade mark (dated 1916).  However, the company now became George Butler & Co , because apparently only one family member remained: this was George Butler (another son of George Sen.).  He died on 29 September 1850 (aged 29) and was buried in Ecclesall.

A new chapter in the company's history had already begun.  In the late 1840s, William Henry Andrew (1820-1894) and Albert George Andrew (1820-1908) had become partners.  They were the twin sons of Joseph Andrew, who was a prosperous grocer and tallow chandler in Furnace Hill and West Bar.  They became 'successors' to the Butlers.  The scope of the firm's products was widened - albeit temporarily - and an 1849 advertisement described the company as a steel converter and refiner, in addition to selling cutlery and tools.  In about 1850, the Andrews brothers (who were apparently bachelors) recruited another partner.  This was Henry George Rowe (c.1817-1868), who had been born in Durham, and was a traveller.  In 1853, Rowe and the Andrews patented an improved method of fastening handles to table knives and forks.  In that year, the firm also displayed its cutlery at the New York Exhibition.