SORBY, I.

SORBY, I. SHEFFIELD
The originator of the I. SORBY mark was Isaac Sorby who traded under his own name until circa 1814, then as Sorby, Turner & Skidmore until 1821 and as Sorby & Turner until 1828. His trademark must have been of value for it continued to be used by at least ten successor firms. The eleventh was ''Turner, Naylor & Co.'' who by 1909 were a subsidiary of ''Wm. Marples''. Around 1870, the "Mr Punch" mark was added as a corporate mark or an additional trademark. (The name should not be confused with I. & H. SORBY, hanging sheep trademark.) By 1932 the firm had become part of Turner, Naylor & Co., then a Wm. Marples associate which was not however fully integrated until 1963.
Regrettably this typical Sheffield story does not end here. The planes with the "Mr Punch" trade mark are likely to date from 1900-1920 whilst those marked I. SORBY "NORTHERN" are believed to date from the inter-war period and both must therefore be Marples planes under another name. CO [GOODMAN]