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Louis Henry Turtle, born 1861 in Chesterfield, was a travelling salesman for Sheffield cutlery manufacturer Wheatley Brothers. In 1894, whilst visiting Croydon, he purchased a tool shop on Crown Hill that was up for sale. He continued to be head of the firm until his death 4th October 1940, aged 79.

Louis Henry married Kate Hibberson in 1883 and had two children, Clifford and Marion. Clifford worked in the shop until he was called up to fight during the First World War. He was killed in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 at age 23. Marion went on to marry Martin Little whom she later divorced, changing her name back to Turtle by deed poll. They had a son named Rupert.

Rupert, a trained engineer, worked in the shop where he met Marjorie. Her father provided Rupert with a job in his engineering company whilst Marion and Rupert ran the shop. Rupert and Marjorie had 4 children. When the eldest showed no interest in wanting to run the shop, Jeremy took over, helping facilitate a move of premises in 1964. Jeremy Turtle ran the business until its closure in 2008.