Francis Brothers does not apparently appear in any directory listings of Sheffield cutlery manufacturers; and it does not seem to have been a retailer. However, the Francis brothers may have been James Robert (1893-1931), Frederick Roy (1899-1964), and Leonard Ernest (1904-1962). They were involved in drop forging. The brothers were born in Sheffield, the sons of Herbert Francis (1866-1951) and Margaret nee Cunningham. Herbert was a commercial manager and later director at Kayser Ellison & Co Ltd, a tool steel manufacturer.

After the end of the First World War, the Francis brothers launched a business as cutlery forgers at Edward Street. Within a few years, James Herbert left to work as a traveller for steelmaker Arthur Balfour & Co, but died from heat stroke in Rangoon on 26 April 1931. Frederick and Leonard continued the firm, which by the late 1930s was involved in drop stamping for the motor and aircraft industries. The firm was incorporated as Francis Brothers (Drop Stampers) Ltd in 1943. It was based at Cambridge Works, Little London Road.

Francis Bros retained an interest in drop forging table cutlery. In 1945, they filed a patent for the manufacture of an integral, blade, tang and bolster produced from a metal strip ‘by compressing axially to upset the bolster portion. The bolster may be completed in stamping dies … and finished by grinding, etc’. 

Leonard died on 13 January 1962; Frederick on 20 November 1964. They left £22,351 and £18,933, respectively. Francis Bros later became a subsidiary of Sanderson Kayser Ltd, but was liquidated in 1991.