John Weiss & Son were London-based surgical instrument makers, founded in 1787 by John Weiss, upon his move to London from Germany. Originally trained as a cutler, as was his father and great grandfather, Weiss quickly moved into the manufacture of surgical instruments. In 1831, Frederick Foveaux Weiss joined his father firm, henceforth known as ‘John Weiss & Son’ taking over completely on his father’s death on Christmas Day 1843. The quality and reliability of John Weiss instruments lead to them becoming the supplier of choice to the British Army with the result that John Weiss instruments travelled all around the globe. Under William IV, Weiss was appointed 'Razor Maker to the King’. John Weiss was extremely proud of his royal appointment and featured the royal arms in a trademark on the pressed horn handles of his surgical instruments. The introduction of the modern hospital at the end of the 19th century with the demand for sterilisable all-steel instruments, changed the face of the surgical instrument market. It was no longer necessary for each surgeon to possess a complete set of instruments of his own. In many cases the manufacture of instruments by hand was replaced by industrial production methods. Numerous small firms ceased to exist but John Weiss & Son developed, expanded and eventually moved from premises at 62 Strand to 287 Oxford Street. On 3rd July 1899 it was made into a limited company with shareholders. The company was acquired by Clement Clarke in 1971 and together they became part of the Haag-Streit group in 1989.