Alfred Draper (1810-1881) and his brother Edmund (1812-1893) were born in Chesterfield.  They moved to Sheffield.  Alfred became an assistant to Maurice Bright (see S. Bright) and then acquired Bright’s High Street cutlery and hardware shop after Maurice’s suicide in 1848.  Edmund became a draper in Fargate.  By 1871, they had retired: however, Edmund’s sons, Edmund (1846-1929) and Alfred (1850-1927) became merchants and hardware dealers.  In 1871, Edmund – who was the more prominent partner – described himself as a ‘South American merchant’; and in 1876 advertised in the Sheffield directory as a merchant and manufacturer of table, butchers’, and spear knives (alongside a wide range of other cutlery).  Steel and tools were also marketed.  The address was St Mary’s Works, St Mary’s Road, from where a silver mark was registered in 1881.  In that year, Edmund Draper had a staff of 21.

In 1885, Alfred withdrew from the partnership and became a cattle dealer.  Although Edmund Draper & Co was listed at St Mary’s Road/90 Mary Street until 1925, Edmund was bankrupt in 1893 and sold the firm.  He became a clerk to a spade manufacturer.  He died on 12 March 1929, aged 83, and was buried in the General Cemetery’s unconsecrated ground.  He left £357.  The trade mark was an ‘M’, with crossed arrows and battle-axe, granted in 1839; and a white star against a black background.  Draper also used the words ‘RENWICK’ and ‘BRIGHT & SONS’.