Established in 1837 by John Baker (c.1797-1865), this firm manufactured files in Rockingham Street.  The name became ‘& Son’ in 1847, and ‘& Sons’ in 1857, after Baker’s sons – Thomas (c.1828-1903) and Joseph (c.1835-1914) – respectively, joined the business.  Baker’s moved to Monmouth Street in 1861.  Twenty years later, John Baker & Sons employed over thirty workers.  It advertised crucible steel, saws, files, and edge tools, and was based at Monmouth Works, Harmer Lane.

In 1877, it was granted a ‘Lighthouse’ and circles trade mark for use on files.  In 1888, the mark was extended to cutlery and edge tools (with the addition of the word ‘FIRM’).  In the following year, Baker’s sued Rawson Bros in a convoluted court action that involved the ‘circles’ mark.  Thomas and Joseph retired in 1887 and 1892, respectively, leaving Thomas’s sons – Thomas Baker Jun. and John Kirk Baker (1856-1936) – as directors.  John Kirk Baker Jun. (1887-1972) was the last family owner and after his death the company – by then at Monmouth Works, Malinda Street – folded.  Baker’s was listed by Matheau-Raven (1997) as an electro-plater; and the firm continued to own the ‘Lighthouse’ mark for cutlery (Whitham & Sykes, 1953).  However, it appears that Baker’s rarely sold traditional cutlery, though the name and ‘Lighthouse mark’ have been found on some early examples of stainless steel table knives and on hunting knives.