Page:An Historical Essay on the Livery Companies of London.djvu/49



The Company fully recognising the great importance of Technical Education, or a knowledge of the principles of science as applied to the materials used in the staple manufactures of the country, after a full consideration of the subject, decided not to take any part in the proposed scheme for the establishment of a College for the teaching of Technical Education generally, but that they would adopt measures calculated to promote and sustain an advancement and improvement in the manufacture of cutlery and of those engaged in the cutlery trade.

With this object in view, the Company resolved to endeavour to create a spirit of competition among the manufacturers of cutlery, and also among their workmen and apprentices, and they also arranged that such competition should be divided into three classes as follows:—

"Class 1.—General Cutlery.

Class 2.—Surgical Cutlery.

Class 3.—Sword Cutlery."

And that the prizes for manufacturers should consist of the Freedom of the Company, gold, silver, and bronze Medals and Certificates of Merit, and for artisans and apprentices an illuminated Certificate of Merit, with a sum of money to be awarded in such amounts as the judges might think proper amongst such of the competitors as should gain Certificates of Merit.

The standard of merit in the award of the judges with regard to manufacturers was settled as follows:—

Class 1.—General excellence of material, temper, and workmanship, novelty of style, practical and general utility of goods.

Class 2.—The general excellence of material, temper, and workmanship, practical and general utility of articles.