The founder, Walter Gregory (1880-1957), was born in Ecclesfield, the son of John (a table fork grinder) and his wife, Jane.  In the Census (1901), Walter was an engine-fitter.  In 1911, he was living at Hull with his wife, Alice, and working as a theatre musician. By the end of the First World War, he had established Gregory & Co, a table knife manufacturer, in Cambridge Street. At that time, though, Gregory was perhaps best known for his musical accomplishments, as a cellist and conductor. One of his musical friends from Ecclesfield was fellow Methodist Tedbar John Booth. Gregory invited him to become a director at his company. After Booth’s death in 1932, the enterprise was registered in the following year as a private limited company, with £3,000 capital. Walter Gregory was the managing director; T. J. Booth’s son, Randolph, was a director and secretary. The address was British Works, 57 & 59 Eyre Street. After the War, Randolph founded R. Booth Ltd. Gregory continued as a cutlery manufacturer until he collapsed at his factory on 23 September 1957, aged 77.  Obituaries noted his various outside interests, which also included chess (he was a leading player in Sheffield).  He was buried in unconsecrated ground at Ecclesfield Cemetery. He left £1,120.  His company soon ceased trading. The trade mark was ‘LUTE’.