Silver Service – behind the scenes at the Arthur Price factory in Sheffield

Have you ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes at Arthur Price? What happens before our silverware adorns your dinner table? And what gives it that lasting power that means it can be passed down through the generations? Read on for an exclusive insight into how it all comes together!

For over a century, Arthur Price cutlery has been a hallmark of beautiful silverware and manufacturing excellence, made right here in the UK. Usually in our blog, we take you on a culinary journey, from the latest delicious recipes to top table etiquette tips.

But today, we’re inviting you to join us on a different journey. Here’s your exclusive visit to the Arthur Price factory in Sheffield. Get a unique insight into the production process and see how we achieve the very highest standards of quality.

Silver service

We manage our products through the full life cycle ­– from cooking up stunning designs to seeing them through to final production.

Here, we’re at the polishing stage. As you can see, our latest batch of stainless-steel spoons have been fixed into a jig with the aid of clamps. The operator has prepared these ready for them to be multi-polished.

Teamwork

Each member of the team on the factory floor plays a key role in ensuring the highest quality from our machinery.

On the left, the operator can be seen manually inserting the jig into the multi-polishing machine for the spoon bowls to be polished. On the right, the machine is in action, thoroughly polishing the bowls of the spoons to ensure they give off our signature shine!

Stamp of approval

Here, the operator is ‘backmarking’ the reverse side of a fork with our branding – after all, our name is synonymous with the highest quality tableware!

Nothing but perfection

Creating timeless style has been our passion since our beginnings in 1902, and only perfection will do. A key part of the factory process – and quite literally testing our ‘metal’ – is therefore the inspection stage.

For this, we’re moving into the warehouse, under quality lighting. The inspector is shown wiping a spoon over with cotton gloves while looking for any abnormalities within the item.

If any variances are found, the item would be sent back out onto the factory floor. If our inspector is happy, we’re happy! It’s then ready to join a full set and be packed ready for dispatch. Will it be adding some shimmer to your dining table?

We hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into where the magic happens in the Arthur Price factory. As you can see from our range, the result of this manufacturing process is something very special. View our full collection here

Bring us your silver stars! Simon Price and Charles Hanson team up to put Lichfield’s silver heritage on the map for charity

Sensational silver and two well-known faces are joining forces in Lichfield to help charity – and they want you to help them make memories with your silver treasures.

 

Simon Price, CEO of the city’s Arthur Price cutlery and silverware company, and Charles Hanson, of Derbyshire’s Hansons Auctioneers, a familiar face on TV shows like Bargain Hunt, have teamed up to shine the spotlight on their love of all things silver.

 

On October 15, from noon-4pm, ‘Living a Lichfield Legacy – A Day of Discovery’ will be held at the Arthur Price Factory Shop, Britannia Way, Lichfield to enable people to celebrate and learn more about the city’s silver heritage.

The event, exploring 200 years of silver history, will be completely free but donations will be invited for charity We Love Lichfield which supports community projects.

 

Charles Hanson said: “I’m delighted to be coming to Lichfield to help this good cause and tell people about my passion for silver through the centuries and quality tableware.

 

“Lichfield has a sparkling silver history thanks to Arthur Price, a firm full of provenance and pedigree which has been manufacturing silver and plated goods for more than 100 years.

 

“What dusty old objects or nostalgic antiques have you got with a pedigree or story to tell which Simon and I can learn about?

 

“Dust down your dining table, look through your drawers, dig out your unused silver cutlery and bring it along. Let’s make this a day to celebrate Lichfield and Staffordshire’s heritage.”

As well as meeting Simon and Charles, free silver valuations will be available with Hansons’ silver expert Victoria Sheppard, formerly of Christie’s, on hand to advise. Visitors can also browse the wares in the Arthur Price Factory Shop.

 

Charles said: “Both Simon and I feel passionately about bringing silver back into the limelight. There is nothing more splendid than a table elegantly laid with silver cutlery. We see canteens of cutlery come to us at Hansons that have been given as wedding presents and never used because they were saved for best.

 

“Let’s get silver back at the heart of our dining experiences and make eating in style a key trend in time for Christmas 2018.”

 

Simon Price, whose great-grandfather Arthur Price established the family business in 1902 and Patron of We Love Lichfield said: ”It’s great that two businesses are working together to help the local community.  I’m really looking forward to hearing people’s stories and celebrating this wonderful place that we live.  And raising money for We Love Lichfield that helps local voluntary groups.”

 

People are welcome to drop into the October 15 event at the Arthur Price Factory Shop, Britannia Way, Lichfield WS14 9UY, anytime between noon-4pm. To find out more, email factory.shop@arthurprice.com