Tudor, Sherburn and Leader was a firm of silver-platers from whom Franklin bought a pair of silverplated tea caddies that he sent home to Philadelphia.

The invention of Sheffield plate (silver on copper) in 1742 created a thriving industry to meet the new demand for consumer luxuries. The partnership of John Sherburn, Henry Tudor and Thomas Leader begun in January 1763 in Sheffield (formal indenture in May of that year), was one of the earliest and most influential.

Information on the origins of the company is based on an online article "The Origins of the Silver Trade in Sheffield" by Edward Law (http:homepage.eircom.net/-lawed/ORIGINS.htm)