We always love hearing from customers for all sorts of reasons but one of our favourites has to be when they tell us theyโve seen us on TV! A recent visitor mentioned spotting a pair of our historic shears on an episode of History Channel’s American Pickers, which sparked a great conversation about our heritage, the incorporation of Wilkinson, and the story behind this historic pair.
While weโre no strangers to making appearances on the small screen, having found ourselves on Salvage Hunters, Morning Live, and ITV News to name a few; itโs always great to see how far-reaching the art of scissor making can be.
Keep reading to learn about our new-found American fame!
The shears date all the way back to 1850
As explained by Steve on the show, the shears date back around 175 years to 1850. They were made by the Sheffield-based firm Wilkinson, which was founded by Master Cutler Thomas Wilkinson in the early 19th century. In 1822, Wilkinson started crafting scissors on Meadow Street, before moving operations to Fitzwilliam Street and Workhouse Lane, and later, High Street.
In 1838, Thomas Wilkinson was invited to commemorate the new Queen Victoria with a pair of special scissors โ entirely hand-made from just one piece of crucible steel, with coloured enamels on the royal coat of arms โ leading to the firm being awarded a Royal Warrant in 1839.
We incorporated Thomas Wilkinson & Sons back in 1875, and today the brand represents our premium product line, which now goes under the name of โWilkinson by Whiteleyโ following our rebranding in 2025.
Wilkinsonโs legacy and innovative spirit has continued through Whiteley, celebrating incredible craftsmanship and passing on the tradition of scissor making through multiple generations, with our own heritage as a firm stretching all the way back to 1760.
The shears featured on American Pickers are 13.5โ 3130 ยฝ Tailors Shears โ an early, oversized predecessor to our 12โ โBig Boltโ Tailors Shears, which we still manufacture today. The distinctive handle shape and standing bolt from this historic design also live on in our modern 10โ โEXOโ Tailors Shears.
In the episode, Steve demonstrates the high quality of the scissors, showcasing their durability, as they continue to cut as good as new, even after nearly two centuries of use!
Learn how much the shears would retail for
Here at Whiteley, we know weโre a cut above the rest, but even we were shocked when we heard how much the shears are now worth!
When asked how much the scissors would cost, shop owner Steve tells the presenting duo theyโd likely retail between ยฃ900 and ยฃ1,000 today – a huge increase from their original price. The shears themselves were made in 1850, with the earliest recorded price we hold from the early 1900s showing 25 shillings (25/0 in old English money). That converts directly to around ยฃ20โยฃ25 in modern decimal currency, or roughly ยฃ160โยฃ180 when adjusted for inflation. While both figures highlight their affordability at the time, their current retail estimate reflects not only inflation but also their rarity, craftsmanship, and collectability, making them highly sought-after pieces of Sheffieldโs industrial heritage.
If youโd like to learn more, and see the scissors in action, check out the clip from the episode below โ we feature at 1 minute 20 seconds!
The reality TV series โAmerican Pickersโ has been running in the US since 2010, and involves hosts travelling across America in the search for rare artifacts and interesting treasures that they can sell on or add to their personal collections.
In series 24, broadcast in 2023, host Mike Wolfe and guest Jon Szalay visited Hecht Sewing Machine & Motor Co, a 130-year-old antique store in New York specialising in the repair and sale of vintage sewing machines.
Mike and Jon spoke to Steve, the third-generation owner of the store, who was keen to show off a pair of special shears… which were Thomas Wilkinson ones!