Edward Gem (c.1811-1905) was the son of Roger Williams Gem (1774-1855), a Birmingham solicitor, and his wife, Ellen Sophia Ball (1774-1852).  Edward became established as a Birmingham hardware merchant, based in Charlotte Street, Birmingham.  In about 1856, he began operating a Sheffield office, Moilliet & Gem (with James and Theodore Moilliet).  It was based in Eyre Street and Birmingham, with Thomas Ingall as agent.  However, this partnership was dissolved in 1858.  By 1860, Gem was listed as a Sheffield cutlery merchant and ‘manufacturer’ on his own account, with Ingall as manager.  Gem stocked a full range of cutlery, including table, pen, and pocket knives, razors, and scissors.  The firm used, inter alia, the word ‘PROTOTYPE’ as a trade mark; and acquired marks from Stacey, Pease, Joseph Kirkby & Sons, and Brittain, Wilkinson & Brownell.  Another mark was an arrow through a diamond (picture), above the office address: 6 Eyre Street.

Edward Gem lived at Belle Vue House, The Hill, Halesowen.  He married twice: his first marriage in 1847 was to Ann Cope; his second (after Ann’s death in 1849) was to Louisa Arnold.  His son from his first marriage – Edward Cope Gem (1849-1942) – joined the firm.  Edward Gem prospered and became a JP.  He retired in 1883, in favour of his son and partners.  In 1890, Edward Cope Gem announced that he was selling the business to another Birmingham merchant of Sheffield goods, Alfred Field.  Gem retained the company’s Eastern trade, but relinquished that, too, in 1892.  Gem’s agent, Thomas Ingall, died at Woodseats, Sheffield, on 15 January 1893.  Edward Gem & Co was listed at the Eyre Street address until 1931, when Field went out of business.  Edward Gem, Sherwood House, Lower Wick, Worcestershire, died on 14 May 1905.  He was aged 94 and left £21,787.  Edward Cope Gem died at Glendossil, Henley-in-Arden on 13 September 1942 – also aged 94 – leaving £7,298.