Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders and James Francis Hollings Shepherd started their firm of manufacturing jewelers and small workers in gold and silver in 1869. The elder Saunders died in 1890 and was succeeded by his son. Their premesus were at 23-25 Bartlett's Buildings, Holborn Circus, near Lincoln's In Fields and the modern London Silver Vaults; by 1904 they were able to erect a modern factory and offices next-door.
