Thomas Henry Blake (1850-1940) was born at Spalding, Lincolnshire, the son of Richard (a tailor) and his wife, Mary.  By 1871, he was a footman at Wingerworth Hall, near Chesterfield. A decade later, he had founded a silver firm in Sheffield with John Bradley.  In the Census (1881), Blake was enumerated at Alexandra Road, Heeley, as a manufacturer employing 12 men, 14 women, nine boys, and a girl.

Bradley & Blake had failed by 1885, when Blake launched his own business in Holly Lane as an electro-plate spoon and fork manufacturer. In 1895, he registered a silver mark from Crown Silver Works, Holly Lane. Blake soon relocated Crown Silver Works to Carver Lane.  In 1924, the firm became ‘Ltd’, with £4,000 capital. Blake used the name and ‘BROOM’ mark of David Miller & Son.  He sold up in 1931.

Thomas H. Blake, Little Norton Lane, died on 1 March 1940, leaving £9.