John Henry Mason (1877-1930) was born in Sheffield, the son of Charles M. Mason and his wife, Emma.  In 1891, the family lived in Carlisle Street, near the city’s steel works.  Charles was a cupola tenter; his son was an apprentice moulder.  By 1911, John Henry was an electro-plate worker, boarding in Blakeney Road with his wife, Ellen, and son, also named John Henry (1903-1933).  The business was said to have started in 1918 in Chesterfield, but was later moved to Matilda Street in Sheffield.  John H. Mason Sen. died at his home at Grosvenor Square, London Road, on 13 August 1930, aged 54.  His burial was at City Road.  He left £6,899 to his widow, Ellen, and son John Henry (who was also an electro-plater).

In 1931, the silversmith and electroplate business of John H. Mason, 37 Matilda Street and Porter Lane, was registered as a private limited company.  Capital was £2,000.  The directors were J. H. Mason’s executors: Ellen (his widow); John Henry Jun.; and the latter’s wife, Annie (Sheffield Independent, 5 August 1931).   However, John Henry Jun. died at Nether Edge Hospital on 1 December 1933.  He left £2,970.   His widow, Annie Mason, relied upon the works manager, Lesley Thomas Bradley (1910-1968), to operate the firm on behalf of the family.  He became managing director and in 1947 acquired the controlling interest in the business (though in the Sheffield directory in 1951 Mrs Annie Mason was still listed as director of the firm).   

Lesley T. Bradley registered a patent in 1958 for cutlery, forks, and spoons.  He died at Bakewell on 30 June 1968, aged 57.  His descendants Gordon Bradley (1930-2010) and John G. Bradley (1955-1997) maintained the family connection with the business.  At the start of the 1980s, John H. Mason Ltd invested £¾m in a move from Sidney Street to Canklow Meadows Industrial Estate, West Bawtry Road, Rotherham.  Electro-plating was shed and a switch was made to zinc and cadmium plating (Quality, May/June 1981).   The firm was later absorbed by Bodycote, an international firm specialising in metallurgical coatings.