Tom Gilpin (1881-1967) was born in Sheffield, the son of David Gilpin (1845-1916) and his wife, Mary. His father was a silver finisher, who was associated with Osborne & Co. David Gilpin, of Abbey Lane, Woodseats, died on 22 December 1916. He was buried at Abbey Lane Cemetery, leaving £11,607.  

Tom Gilpin and his half-brother David (1869-1953) took over Osborne’s, which was based at Abbey Works, Rockingham Street. Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, Sheffield council began a slum clearance that included parts of Rockingham Street and Rockingham Lane. The Gilpins accepted an offer of £8,750 for their property. By 1939, David Gilpin had retired. In that year, Tom Gilpin Ltd was registered as a private company, with £500 capital. Tom Gilpin was a director, alongside his son, David Tom Gilpin (1901-1975). The company planned to carry on a business as manufacturers of and dealers in gold and silver plate, electro-plate, pewter ware, badges, medals, trophies and presentation goods, and cutlery (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 15 July 1939).  

The firm had premises at Denby Street during the War, from where it advertised for ‘roughers’ for spoons and forks.  Many of the firm’s earliest contracts for these items were from the government.   After the War, Gilpin’s relocated to Universe Works, Mary Street (this was also the location of Smith, Seymour.   Gilpin used Osborne’s ‘ABBEY’ mark, besides ‘T. G. Ltd’.   In 1951, Tom Gilpin was listed as a director of Abbey Plate & Cutlery Co, a spoon and fork manufacturer at 89 Carver Street.  In 1962, Gilpin’s was apparently bought by Jewish entrepreneur Albert Smith (of Smith, Seymour).  Tom Gilpin died on 28 May 1967, aged 86; David Tom Gilpin on 4 August 1975, leaving £8,918.   The Gilpins lived at Totley.  The family graves are at Christ Church, Dore.