Frederick Ellis Timm was born in Sheffield in about 1817.  By 1841, he was a silver plater making caps, ferrules, and bolsters.  By the 1850s, he also made Bowie handles.  In 1852, his works address was Eyre Street, but within two years Frederick Ellis Timm & Co was based in Hawley Croft (from where he registered a silver mark in 1857).   James Thompson was associated with the firm.  In 1861, Timm employed four men, three women, two boys, and two girls.   After 1864, Timm was based in Regent Place, Regent Street.  A second silver mark was registered from that address in 1872.  Frederick E. Timm, Broomgrove Crescent, died on 15 September 1877, aged 60.   He left under £4,000.  

The business was acquired by William Davis, the firm’s traveller, who registered silver marks as F. E. Timm & Co in 1878 and 1882.   Davis partnered Edmund Boteler Chalmer (c1805-1883), who was vicar of Ranmoor and the eldest son of the former vicar of Fulwood.  This arrangement was dissolved in 1883.  Davis continued, though before the First World War the name and mark (a telephone) had apparently been acquired by T. H. Wilson.  In 1919, F. E. Timm & Co was at Emu Works, Eyre Street (the name having possibly passed to Ford & Medley).   Its last address in the late 1930s was Mary Street.