The founder was Arthur Bushell, who was born in 1881 at Aston, Warwickshire.  He was the son of Joseph, an electro-plate finisher, and his wife, Mary Jane.  Arthur followed his father’s trade.  In the Census (1911), Arthur was working as a silversmith at Hockley, Birmingham.  

By 1919, Arthur Bushell was in partnership with Herbert Henry Chapman, as Bushell & Chapman, manufacturing silversmiths, 28 Cambridge Street, Sheffield.  His home address is listed as 4 Buxton Terrace, Coal Aston.  In the following year, A. Bushell (Sheffield) Ltd was registered at that address (Albert Works) as a silver and electro-plate manufacturer.  Capital was £5,000.  Bushell was the director; G. H. Langton, of Tinsley, was cashier.  It seems that the factory was mainly involved in finishing and packaging cutlery.

In 1920, Bushell advertised for a stainless buffer and whetter to work as an ‘outworker’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 29 September 1920).  The firm was listed during the 1920s at 28 Cambridge Street, but did not survive the Depression.  It was struck off the register in 1932.