Alfred Marples & Co was launched in Mary Street in about 1901 by Alfred Marples (1871-1949), who was soon joined by his brother, William (1874-1938).  They were the sons of Joseph Marples, a razor grinder, and his wife, Mary Jane.  The firm became Marples & Co by 1905 and the ‘BEEHIVE’ mark of Slater Bros was acquired.  The Company of Cutlers’ register (Whitham & Vickers, 1919¹) had an advertisement for the firm’s ‘Beehive’ branded razors and cutlery from Beehive Works, 92,94 & 96 Mary Street.  Another trade name was ‘WARMAR’.  Marples apparently ceased business during the late 1920s and the ‘Beehive’ mark passed to Gregory Bros. Willie Marples died on 25 September 1938, leaving £261; Alfred on 29 January 1949, leaving £11,479.  They had lived in the Park district and were buried in City Road Cemetery.

^1. Whitham, J H, and Vickers, D, (eds) Register of Trade Marks of the Cutlers’ Company of Sheffield (London, 1919)