Walter Belk (1868-1937) was born in Sheffield, the son of Joseph Belk.  His mother was Hannah née Storer, who had a daughter from a previous marriage.  When they married in 1867, Hannah was aged about 30; Joseph about 65.  Joseph died on 9 April 1870, aged 68, at Broomspring Lane.  He had been a warehouseman at Unwin & Rodgers for 48 years and a long-serving Free Methodist preacher (Sheffield Independent, 11 April 1870). 

Hannah next married Henry Taylor, a razor whetter.  By 1881, when they resided in Heeley, Walter was an errand boy.  By 1891, he was a cutlery etcher and gilder.  He became a ‘manager’ and started his own firm in 1915 at Kingsley Works, Young Street.  He specialised in razors, cutlery, and electro-plate.  His sons – Cecil Blackmore, Walter Rupert, and Cedric Kingsley – joined him.  Another partner, F.A. Lester, withdrew in 1920.  The trade marks were ‘NABOB’ and ‘KINGSLEY PLATE’.  The firm ceased trading in about 1931.  Walter Belk, Edgedale Road, died on 25 November 1937, leaving £262.