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The founder was Herbert Brooksbank (1869-1947), who was the son of Barnett (a table knife cutler) and his wife, Sarah. Herbert apparently started in 1900 as a table knife hafter, who was based in Trafalgar Street and specialised in metal handles. In the Census (1911), he described himself as an ‘aluminium cutler’. Also based in Trafalgar Street was Willis Brooksbank (Herbert’s brother), who was a spelter bolster manufacturer. In the interwar period, Willis continued to operate in Trafalgar Street (he died on 15 June 1934, leaving £860). Herbert was listed in Eldon Street as a maker of aluminium cutlery handles. During the Second World War, Herbert was apparently involved with the Brooklyn Blade Co Ltd, which was wound up in 1945. Herbert Brooksbank, Milton Street, died on 7 February 1947, leaving £3,708.
In the previous year, H. Brooksbank (Sheffield) Ltd had been incorporated, with £5,000 capital, and with the Brooksbank family as directors: Herbert and his wife Rose Hannah (1873-1960), besides their sons Harry Leslie (1902-1999), Thomas Alfred (1916-1992), and Harold (1918-2005). In 1955, the company advertised as a manufacturer of ‘quality table cutlery’ from Boston Street (Brucut Works). According to Herbert Housley (personal communication, 23 May 2013), their speciality remained ‘cheap aluminium handle knives, [which] were cast on using single moulds and whittle tang (sheet steel) blades and afterwards drop stamped. Reed and Shield was a popular design. These knives were extensively used in the catering trade before the advent of cheap imported stainless steel cutlery’. The firm apparently ceased trading in the 1980s (and was acquired by K. Bright). It was dissolved in 1995.