Even the considerable researches of Geoffrey Tweedale, gathered in his 2019 Directory of Sheffield Tool Manufacturers, appear a trifle stretched by the BLAKE clan . . . here, with a saw focus, is a summary of what we know. . . . I hope it may offer pointers to where & when in the family's activities the above stamps likely had their origin: There are two plausible George Blakes: George Blake (1) was baptised in 1790 at Sheffield Cathedral, son of Joseph & Hannah. His father, Joseph (1759-1813) was a son of John Blake, & baptised at Wath - a rural parish adjacent to & North of Rotherham, Yorkshire. Joseph Blake is in Hallamshire Cutlers records as having purchased his Freedom in 1801; as a "cast steel maker" (an unusual entry, in these records) & was possibly the same Joseph Blake in their records as apprenticed: "to Blake Thomas, filesmith, 3-8; 1791" George Blake (2) was baptised in 1800 at Nether Chapel, Sheffield, son of Thomas & Sarah. Thomas (1755-1828) was also a son of John Blake of Wath; & appears to have been the first of the family to serve an apprenticeship to, then become a Hallamshire Cutler. Thomas obtained his Freedom in 1782, & appears in Trade Directories of 1787 & 1797 as a file-maker, each time using the trade-stamp: "WATH" - firstly at an address in Green Lane, then at "60 Scotland Street" The earliest explicit record of a BLAKE saw-maker was dated 1803 in Sheffield Parish (Poor Law) records: "Blake Joseph, Saw-maker, Scotland-street" The Sheffield section of Holden's Directories (3rd & 4th Editions) for 1805/6/7 & 1808 both contained this entry: "Blake Thomas & Joseph, file, saw, and fender manufacturers & steel refiners, 60 Scotland Street" Holden's 1809/10/11 Directory (5th Edition) contained the entry: "Blake Thomas & Joseph & Co, file, saw, and fender manufacturers, steel refiners, & dealers in hardware, 60 Scotland Street" The Manchester Mercury for August 1813 contained the notice: "Mr. Joseph Blake, of Netherthorpe, near Sheffield. While attending the duties of his office as an Overseer of the Poor, he was seized with a fit of apoplexy and almost immediately expired." (NB - Netherthorpe was then a rural area due West from Scotland Street). Pigot's Directory for 1816-17 contains five entries; 1) under File Makers: "Blake Thomas & sons, 60 Scotland street" 2) under Steel Manufacturers: "Blake Thomas & sons, 60 Scotland street" 3) under Steel Convertors & Refiners: "Blake Thomas & son, Netherthorp" AND "Blake George, Netherthorp" 4) under Saw Makers: "Blake George, Netherthorp" Brownell's Directory for 1817, under Saw Makers, lists: "Blake Joseph & Sons, Netherthorpe" Baines Directory for 1822, under Saw Makers, lists: "Blake Thos & Sons, 43 Scotland Street", then in its alphabetical listings: "Blake Thos. & Sons file mfrs, 43 Scotland street" AND "Blake George, steel convertor & refiner, Netherthorpe" . . . . we see from the above that the sole explicit reference to a George Blake, saw-maker is in the 1816/17 Pigot Directory (likely compiled in 1815). While it is not impossible for non-adult to be so listed . . . . Opinions & further insight welcome.
Happily, further info from: "A South Yorkshire Family of Type Founders" by: William Greaves Blake (1999, Hallamshire Press ISBN: 1874718245): Joseph & Thomas Blake were in partnership at Scotland Street from approximately 1798; to the Thomas-founded file-making business: . . . "adding steel-casting & later saw-making to its operations. Joseph had the management of the new departments." At some time around or before 1810: ". . . Joseph . . . built a house he called Neverthorpe . . . with a melting furnace . . . & at the same time he dissolved the partnership with his brother and setup business with his son George under the name Joseph Blake & son as saw manufacturers & steel refiners." As we already know, Joseph died very suddenly in 1813, and: . . . "after Joseph's death his son George carried on the business of Joseph Blake & son . . . for about 4 to 5 years . . . . the business failed & George left Sheffield, never to return. He went to Brighton & lived at a public house called The Blacksmith's Arms, where he read the newspaper in the evening to the assembled company, and repaired saws for a living in the daytime." So: the data so far suggests early-looking saws stamped BLAKE CAST.STEEL likely to be from c1800-1810-ish; early-looking saws stamped: GEO. BLAKE CAST.STEEL likely to be between 1813/14 & around 1818/19. (interesting to see how faithful/responsive - or not - the various Trade Directories were to changing circumstances) (also interesting to see how amassing info *nearly* got the full story; minus a business-failure & sad Brighton-coda) EDIT: Joseph Blake in the 1797 Robinson Sheffield Directory as a 'steel refiner' in Green-lane: