Francis Corden Goodlad (1875-1951) was the son of a file cutter. He worked as a stationary engine driver, but in 1922 was listed in a Sheffield directory as a table knife cutler, New Street. By 1925, he was a cutlery manufacturer in Jessop Street. In about 1938, the business was registered as a limited liability company, after Francis had brought his son, Francis Arnold Goodlad (1902-1959), into the firm. It is known to have made stainless steel table knives for the mass market and also carving sets.  Goodlad’s was listed at Jessop Street until about 1944, when it was located in Mary Street.

Goodlad's Mary Street premises were directly opposite Bramhall & Co, who specialised in making and supplying bread boards and related cutlery. Goodlads supplied bread knives and other cutlery items to Bramhalls for a number of years. When Goodlads ceased trading they were acquired by Bramhall and relocated to the top floor of their Mary Street premises. The name was retained and exclusively produced bread knives for Bramhalls. Knife blanks were bought in from various Sheffield companies; a major supplier was Fry & Wigfull. These were ground, polished and handled by a team of 'buffer girls'.

The Goodlad name was eventually dropped (it was struck off the Register of Companies in 1977) and it became an integral part of Bramhalls.

Francis C. Goodlad died on 4 October 1951, leaving £3,349; Francis Arnold on 7 January 1959, leaving £5,481.

N.B. Information on the link between Goodlads and Bramhalls has been kindly provided by David B Staves, descendant of the Bramhall family.