This table cutlery manufacturer started in 1921 as a backstreet operation in Eyre Street.  Latham withdrew almost immediately, leaving Douglas Edward Owen (1900-1995) to run the business at Hallam Works, Eyre Street.  Starting with a £1,000 loan from his father (a draper’s cashier) and only a couple of craftsmen and a few office staff, Owen built up a thriving trade with department stores and shipping lines.  In 1948, Latham & Owen became a private limited company (capital £15,000).  The address was 87 Eldon Street and Owen was managing-director and chairman. 

A government loan for post-war reconstruction enabled investment in new plant at Hallam Works, Herries Road, which was described in the press as one of the few modern cutlery factories built since the war.  It manufactured tableware and trade knives (such as cooks’ and butchers’ knives) in stainless and carbon steel.  Latham & Owen also filled government orders.  Trade marks included ‘EXCALIBUR’ and sword on table cutlery; ‘SERGEANT on trade knives, with the slogan ‘A Cut Above the Others’.  ‘CARNIVAL’ and an eye mask device are listed (but not pictured) in Whitham and Sykes (1953).  Owen also marketed a popular ‘SPARTAN’ range of stainless table cutlery.  In 1970, he sold the firm to Jack Wild of Hiram Wild Ltd.  Douglas Owen remained head of the firm until 1975, when he retired.