William Albert Hartley was born in Sheffield in 1863, the son of John (a butcher from Conisbrough) and wife, Arabella.

In about 1894, William launched an electro-plate enterprise at Central Works, West Street. In 1898, he joined Arthur Baxter (who had been born in 1858 and was possibly the son of a steel melter). Hartley, Baxter & Co Ltd was registered in 1898, with seven subscribers, five directors, and £12,000 capital (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 25 June 1898). It registered a silver mark from West Street in 1899. The firm relocated to 82 Tenter Street (the address of S. Hibbert), but in 1902 it was liquidated.

In 1903, Hartley and Baxter began a new partnership and registered a silver mark from Bath Works, Bath Street.  Hartley & Baxter was dissolved in 1921, when the address was Eyre Lane. Hartley, who lived in Hathersage, continued to sell silver and electro-plate cutlery. He died on 23 March 1928, aged 64, leaving £1,249 to his widow, Ada. Hartley & Baxter was listed until 1936, when it was in Matilda Street.