Tom and John William Cooper – born in Sheffield in 1843 and 1844, respectively – were the sons of Joseph Cooper. The latter was a steel converter and melter (and later bookkeeper), who had been widowed by 1851. A decade later the family was living in Burngreave Road: Thomas was a Britannia metal clerk; John William was a model maker. The latter served an apprenticeship at Hoole’s Green Lane Works. Tom and John founded their electro-plate business in 1866 at High Street Works, where t....