Benjamin Ellis (1873-1952) was born in Sheffield, the son of George Ellis (a silversmith) and his wife, Priscilla. Benjamin became a brewer’s bookkeeper. In 1909, he was sentenced to a month’s hard labour for embezzling travellers’ expenses at Queen’s Road Brewery Co (Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 13 July 1909). After the First World War, he followed his brothers – George Ellis and Samuel Milton Ellis – into the cutlery industry. In about 1919, he took his son, Benjamin Milton Ellis (1896-1989), into partnership.  Benjamin Ellis & Son was described as ‘late Thomas Raynes’ at Permanent Works, 171 Eyre Street. Presumably, Benjamin had acquired the assets of the well-known scissors maker Thomas Raynes.  Benjamin was listed as a manufacturer of scissors, stainless cutlery, and EPNS spoons and forks. He was also an inventor of sorts, who devised the steel and rubber Lee Ellis Link belt for motor cycles (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 3 December 1920). However, in 1921 Benjamin Ellis & Son was dissolved and the assets and ‘PERMANENT’ trade mark were offered at auction (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 12 November 1921).  They were still for sale in July 1922. 

Benjamin was listed in 1925 as a cutlery manufacturer at Court 3, Brittain Street. His further involvement in cutlery was indicated by a somewhat cryptic notice posted by cutlery manufacturer Charles E. Jenkins Ltd. It stated that ‘Benjamin Ellis and B. Milton Ellis have no further connection whatsoever with this company’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 4 June 1927). In 1928, B. & L. Ellis appeared in the local directory as a cutlery manufacturer in Eyre Lane. Benjamin’s wife was Lily, so that would explain the name.  It disappeared from directories in the 1930s. In the 1939 England & Wales Register, Benjamin was enumerated as a retired cutlery manufacturer, living with Lily at Croydon Street.  He died in 1952.