This founder was Thomas Oxley, a Sheffield coal merchant, who died at his home, Deep Pits, 678 City Road, on 19 November 1913 (aged 57).  He was a Primitive Methodist and Liberal and well known in the Park district for his philanthropic work (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 20 November 1913). He left £4,491 and was buried at City Road Cemetery. Thomas’ sons, John (1880-1925) and Maurice (1884-1961), had been his assistants. John continued to operate the business as a private limited company, which opened a head office at Shiloh Works, Stanley Street, in the Wicker. In 1919, when the firm advertised, it was listed as a coke, iron, steel, and machinery merchant. It sold crucible and high-speed steels; and was also involved in haulage contracting. Presumably, its inventory also included sales of stainless table knives.

In 1923, Thomas Oxley (1923) Ltd was registered at Shiloh Works, with £3,000 capital. It had John Oxley as director and John May (a basket maker) as an additional subscriber. On 18 May 1925, however, John Oxley died at a Nursing Home in Norfolk Road, aged 44. He left £1,629 and was buried at City Road (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 22 May 1925). His brother, Maurice, was already managing director of the firm. 

In 1931, Thomas Oxley (1923) Ltd merged with Oxley & Co (Machinery) Ltd, iron, steel and scrap merchants in Savile Street. Oxley’s also acquired the local coal and coke business of Brooks, Haywood & Co.  This was said to have raised it to a leading position in the coal trade in the north. ‘Coke for industrial use is one of their specialities’, noted The Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 26 September 1931.  In 1939, Oxley’s relocated to Wicker Arches House, after the Corporation had acquired Shiloh Works. During the War, the firm’s address was Halifax Buildings, Pinstone Street, but by the 1950s it was no longer listed in directories (though Maurice Oxley Ltd was listed as a coal merchant at Exchange Buildings).