Kent Bros was launched in 1919 as a cutlery and holloware (spoon and fork) manufacturer in Broad Lane.  The brothers were Percy (1891-1927) and Leonard (1893-1959).  They were born in Sheffield, the sons of William Henry Kent (1869-1951) and his wife, Elizabeth née Heathcote.  William Henry had been born at South Willingham, Lincolnshire, but his parents had moved to Sheffield, where he became a cabinet case maker.  The  Census in 1911 enumerated the Kent family at 72 Hands Road.  Percy was an export clerk at an edge tool manufacturer (Robert Sorby & Sons) and Leonard was a silversmith worker making cruets.  During the War, Percy joined the Royal Flying Corps and took part in 56 bombing raids in France and Belgium.   But the experience left him with ‘nerve strain’ and he was unable to join his brother in business in Sheffield.   He died, aged 36, at Teddington (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 17 September 1927).  
 
Leonard retained the Kent Bros name and in 1922 registered the firm as a private limited company at 168 Broad Lane.  Capital was £1,500.  Leonard stated his address as Hampden Club, St Pancras.  The directors were W. H. Brownhill, Crookes Road; and a member of the Leapman family.   The latter provided no address, but may have been connected with the Leapman jewellery firm (H. B. Bardlay) at Hatton Garden.  By the mid-1920s, Kent Bros Ltd was based at Eldon Place Works, Eldon Street.  By the early 1930s, its address was again Broad Lane, where it was listed as a maker of silver and plated fruit and dessert knife and fish carvers.  Judging by Kent Bros’ advertisements for roughers and dolliers, a major part of its output was spoons and forks.  The  Register of England & Wales (1939) listed Leonard as managing director of Kent Bros Ltd.   Leonard Kent, of 16 Bents Green, died aged 66 on 27 December 1959.  He left £3,422 to his widow, Moya Lorretto née Molloy.  The company was wound up in 1969, when the chairman was E. H. Beighton.