Joseph Ridge was born in Sheffield in 1844 and was the eldest son of Alfred Ridge, the director of Hawksworth, Eyre & Co.   Apparently he began his career at the age of ten, with a long apprenticeship with Shaw & Fisher, the silver and electro-plate manufacturer.  He then became manager of Barber Bros in Birmingham, before returning to Shaw & Fisher.  Between about 1872 and 1880, he was a partner in Ridge, Woodcock & Hardy, Britannia metal and electro-plate manufacturers, in Eldon Street.  Woodcock & Hardy continued alone, after Ridge launched his own silver and electro-plate company.  In 1881, Joseph Ridge & Co registered a silver mark from Lion Works in Eyre Lane.  By 1884, the business was renamed Ridge, Allcard & Co.  William Henry Allcard, the son of Henry Allcard, was the partner.  In 1886, this partnership was dissolved and the stock and assets of the business were offered for sale (Sheffield Independent, 29 November 1886).   Apparently, the assets were merged into John Round & Son, where Ridge found a post as managing director.