The senior partner of this silver and electro-plate manufacturer was William White, who had been involved in several similar ventures:

•    1852: Nicholson, Fidler & White, silver-plated ware manufacturers, North Street Works.  White’s fellow partners were Vincent Nicholson (born c.  1826), silversmith, Hamden View; and Joseph Fidler (c.1793-1860), silver-plate manufacturer, Upper Heeley.   White himself was listed in the 1851 Census as a 26 year-old ‘silversmith journeyman’, who was the son of Thomas White (‘silversmith plater’) and his wife Mary.  The family lived in Ball Street.

•    1853-55: Nicholson & White.

•    1856-58: Nicholson, White & Co.

•    1858-64: White & Johnstone, North Street.  A silver mark was registered in 1859.  White at this time was continuing his career as a silversmith, but was also a butter/cheese factor and provision dealer in Westbar.  His partner in the silver firm was Thomas Johnstone, who in 1861 was a 23 year-old silversmith.  He was the son of a Scottish draper, who had settled in Sheffield.  

•    1865-66: White & Johnstone, Burgess Street.  

•    1866-78: White, Henderson & Co, Elcho Works, Burgess Street.   A silver mark was registered in 1866.  William White’s partner was Scottish-born John Sutherland Henderson (c.1822-1897).   By 1871, White, Henderson employed 26 men and two boys.  The partnership ended in 1878, when Henderson joined Thomas Bradbury & Sons.

•    1878-85: White, Sons & Co, Elcho Works, Burgess Street.  A silver mark was registered in 1878.  The firm became bankrupt and Elcho Works was sold (Sheffield Independent, 18 July 1885).  White lived at Spring Villa, Upperthorpe, but his subsequent life is untraced.