Sheffield, England · about 1830–1962 as a family firm; the brand continued under Record and Irwin
Marples hand tools
William Marples set up as a joiner's tool maker in Sheffield around 1830. The firm's catalogs claimed 1828, which its historian thinks was meant to beat his cousin Robert's business. By 1859 he was at the Hibernia Works in Westfield Terrace with three sons, and by 1914 the company had 400 employees making tools for every trade. The shamrock became a trademark in 1862, and HIBERNIA and the triple shamrock in 1875. In 1962 the family sold Marples to William Ridgway and C. & J. Hampton, the Record makers, who merged as Record Ridgway in 1972. Ownership then passed through Bahco, Record Holdings, the American Tool Companies and Newell Rubbermaid, whose Irwin brand moved chisel making out of Sheffield around 2008. Ken Hawley carried off the entire Marples plane workshop for his collection when it closed in 1965.
2 models we cover.
How to spot one in the photos
HIBERNIA with a triple shamrock on older blades (registered 1875, seen into the 1940s); Shamrock Brand on boxes and catalogs; green or red shamrock transfers on boxwood chisel handles from about 1958 to 1973; SHEFFIELD ENGLAND or MADE IN SHEFFIELD etched on Record-era and early Irwin blades; square necks before about 1952, round necks after, tapered necks from about 1985.
Marples · Bench chisel
M444Marples Blue Chip Chisel Set
1968–2000s (Sheffield-made until about 2008)
$80–$150 typical ask
23 on eBay
Marples · Bench chisel
No. 377Marples Boxwood Bevel Chisel
1909–1998 as catalog No. 377
$35–$100 typical ask
6 on eBay
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