Britain: An official handbook > 1956

196
BRITAIN: AN OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
Some of these industries are of considerable export importance. For example, in
1954 the United Kingdom exported £17-9 million worth of implements and tools
(excluding machine tools).
Cutlery
At one time the production of cutlery was spread fairly widely throughout
England, but gradually it centred in the river valleys around Sheffield. When steam
replaced water as the motive power, the industry began to move in towards the
centre of Sheffield. The production units were very small and the industry was built
up on the high degree of skill of its craftsmen. The introduction of modern
machinery has largely replaced hand forging, and mass production methods are now
used by some firms in producing the cheaper range of products. The highest
quality wares, however, are still produced by the skilled craftsmen. Although in
recent years there has been some increase in the size of the production units, they
remain mainly small, and, of the 400 firms manufacturing cutlery, some 200 still
employ fewer than ten persons.
The annual output of the industry is now valued at about £8-g million, of which
£4 million represents exports, mainly to Australia, Canada, the United States, and
South Africa.
Domestic Hollow-Ware
This industry is mainly located in the Midlands, although some production is
also carried out in Lancashire, Yorkshire, South Wales and London. Hollow-ware
production covers a wide range of goods and these are roughly divided into six
classes: wrought steel (including galvanized, enamelled and tinned), aluminium,
tin and terne plate, cast iron, copper and other metals. There is, however, an
increasing development in the comparatively recent production of plastic hollow-
ware. There are some 300 firms known to be manufacturing domestic hollow-ware
and these vary considerably in size.
The annual production is valued at about £19’3 million, of which £4-9 million
represents exports, mainly to Commonwealth countries. Although aluminium
hollow-ware accounts for the greater value of total production, export sales are
highest for enamelled ware.
Hand Tools
The manufacture of hand tools is one of the oldest industries of the United
Kingdom. From the time when prehistoric man first learned how to fashion tools
from iron, hand tools of an ever-increasing diversity and precision have been made
in Britain, and today, over 400 different types—in many thousands of sizes and
patterns—are made in its factories.
Production of hand tools falls broadly into the following groups: agricultural
and other heavy edge tools (including scythes and sickles); engineers’ and mechanics’
tools (including jacks and spanners); light edge tools (builders’ and joiners’ tools);
files and rasps; saws (hand, tenon and cross cut); and pliers, pincers and nippers.
There are about 400 firms, employing more than 18,000 operatives, in the
industry. Approximately 65 per cent of the total production comes from the
Sheffield area, 30 per cent comes from Birmingham, and most of the remainder
from London and Lancashire.
The industry has expanded considerably since before the second world war,
output having risen from a little over £5 million in 1937 to an estimated level of
about £25 million in 1954, of which about £12 million worth was exported. Two-
thirds of the exports go to Commonwealth countries.