John E Cooper appears to have been a prominent member of the Sheffield Cutlery industry.  John Ernest Cooper (1883-1957) was the son of John (Silversmiths Toolmaker) and Florence Cooper, John Ernest was also employed as a toolmaker and by 1911 living at 3 Keyworth Road.  John Ernest later established a business with George Rogerson ie (Rogerson & Cooper) which became John Cooper & Son, located at Garden Street.

John was a member of the Sheffield Master Silversmith's Association, the minutes of a meeting with the National Union of Gold, Silver and Kindred Trades in 1916 highlighted a shortage of labour due to men being 'called up' for military service and the need to introduce women and girls into the trades  - the Union response stated that the members 'absolutely refused' to take on women apprentices!. (Extract from Sheffield Archives ref DIXON/7/3/2)

On 24 Feb 1923 the business, trading at 32 & 55 Garden Street, was subject to a Receiving Order and by 28 July 1928 John was discharged from bankruptcy. (London Gazette).

The 1939 England and Wales Register for Sheffield lists John as an 'Engineer and Press Tool Manufacturer', his son, John Charnley (1922-1990), age 22 is a University Student.  John Ernest Cooper died at 21 Steade Road in June 1957, aged 74, leaving £14,984 to his woidow Ethel Bingham née Wood (1891-1969) and his son John Charnley Cooper, a naval constructor..  In 1971 the  business was still operating at Garden Street, as Press Tool makers.