George Manby (1832-1895), the son of a cabinet maker, was born in Leeds and first worked as an ironmonger.  In 1876, he became salesman for Wiebusch & Hilger in New York and later had charge of its Sheffield factory (see B. J. Eyre).  According to Manby: ‘I proposed to the owners to remove our Sheffield business to America’ (Sheffield Independent, 6 September 1879).  Manby moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, but after this venture’s failure he returned to Sheffield.  By 1881, he had started George Manby & Co, with two men, two boys, and two girls at 100 West Street, and then later at Jessop Street.  He died on 11 April 1895 and was buried in Norton cemetery, leaving £295.