Edward Bird (1870-1916) was born in South Molton, Devon, the son of John Bird (a railway clerk) and his wife, Emma.  By 1871, he was in Sheffield.  He became a merchant’s clerk and then alongside William John Hardy (unidentified) operated the Practical Cutlery Co (formed by 1876 as a merchant and manufacturer of table, butchers’, and spear knives at Zebra Works in Union Lane).  The manager was Joseph Axelby.  Under William John Hardy and Edward Bird, razors, scissors, saws, and files were produced (or more probably factored).  Hardy & Bird advertised in the Foreign Buyers’ Catalogue (1895), but in that year their partnership ended.  Edward Bird was next involved in Bird & Blake, which manufactured electro-plate cutlery in Edward Street (trade mark ‘DUCHESS’).  This partnership with John Harold Blake was dissolved in 1904.  Bird continued in Edward Street.  In 1912, he registered Bird & Co (Sheffield) Ltd at Imperial Silver Works, St Thomas Street.  His partner was G. F. Rowe.  The firm was capitalised at £5,000 (which included £3,500 debentures).   

In 1914, Bird & Co (Sheffield) 1914 was registered with £2,000 capital, after Ryalls, Turner & Co bought Bird’s firm for £2,400 cash.  Debentures of £2,500 were then issued.  Also acquired was Bird’s bagpipes trade mark.  Edward Bird died in Bombay on 21 November 1916, leaving £2,200.  The name ‘Practical Cutlery Co’ was briefly resurrected in 1919 as an edge tool manufacturer in Broad Lane.  ‘DUCHESS’ was used by Mottershaw & Rowe; the bagpipes mark later passed to George Wood.