Herbert Tolputt (1878-1934) was born in Brighton, the son of William B. Tolputt (a Sheffield dentist from Folkestone) and his wife Phillis Annie.  In 1901, Herbert was unemployed and living with his parents in Glossop Road.  Between 1904 and 1909, he acquired experience in the cutlery, agricultural implements, and light engineering industry.  He apparently worked in  the warehouse of Parkin & Marshall getting up orders and dispatching goods.  According to his own account, engineering was his hobby.  In 1910, he launched his own factory – H. Tolputt & Co Ltd – employing between 300 and 350 hands (Institution of Mechanical Engineers, membership application, 17 November 1922).  It was registered in 1912, with £10,000 capital.  This was at New London Works, Bridge Street, and was listed as an engineers.  Tolputt was an inventor of sorts and had devised a polishing compound.  To exploit this, Tolputt organised Idrite Burnishing Co Ltd, with £10,000. In both ventures, his co-director was J. F. Hutcheson.

In 1913, Tolputt left the company and decided to devote his time to motor and aeronautical engineering.  In 1919, he established an office on the London Road.  In 1919, his old company was listed at New London Works, Bridge Street, as a merchant and manufacturer of table knives, scissors, pen and pocket knives, and electro-plated and nickel silver spoons and forks.  The trade mark was ‘THE GRAF’.  In 1922, H. Tolputt & Co Ltd was liquidated by J. F. Hutcheson.  

Herbert Tolputt posted a notice in the local press stating that his new motor firm, Tolputt Co, had no connection with H. Tolputt & Co Ltd.  Between 1912 and 1920, he registered patents at home and abroad.  In 1922, his application for membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers listed more than a dozen patents, involving ball bearings, hand grenades, aeroplane silencers, knife guards, turning tools, and grinding machines.  Herbert Tolputt died at Wortley, near Sheffield, in 1934, aged 55.