This export merchant in steel, files, tools, and cutlery was started in about 1861 by Joseph Tingle Deakin (c.1837-1896).   He was the son of William Deakin, a traveller, and his wife, Hannah.   Joseph began his career with Burys, the steelmakers, as a cashier.  In 1868, Deakin, Ecroyd & Co was formed by Joseph Deakin and Henry Ecroyd, Ernest G. Reuss, and John Bottomley.  The firm was based in Rockingham Street; and then at Tiger Works, Green Lane (using the ‘TIGER’ trade mark).  It seems to have been an agent for Bury’s.  In 1874, Ecroyd withdrew and Deakin, Reuss & Co was launched.   

The next move was to Tiger Works on West Street.  The building still stands and has ‘1884’ on the facade.  It had a packing room on the ground floor, offices and a stockroom on the first, and rooms for preparing and storing samples on the second.  It was claimed that Deakin’s South American trade was equal to that of any Sheffield concern and that it was one of the first local firms to send a direct representative to that market (Sheffield & Rotherham (Illustrated) Up-to-Date, 1897).  To suit South American (and Spanish) customers, the emphasis was on the cheaper grades of cutlery in butchers’ knives, pocket cutlery, dagger and spear-point knives, and razors.  

In 1895, Joseph T. Deakin took over the concern completely with his sons, Frank Boyden Deakin (1868-1927) and Walter Joseph Deakin (1870-?).  Joseph lived at Ashford House, Endcliffe Avenue.  After attending a service at Broom Park Congregational Church, he sickened with bronchitis and died on 16 February 1896, aged 59.  He was buried in an unconsecrated grave in the General Cemetery.  He left £5,894.  Besides a widow, Marian, and his sons, he was apparently survived by his father, who had left Sheffield for the USA many years previously (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 17 February 1896).   Frank and Walter apparently sold the Deakin name and Tiger mark in about 1900 to W. A. Colley.   By 1902, J. G. Graves had moved into the West Street building, soon to be followed by Viners.