James Furniss (1875-1940) was the son of Frederick, a sheet steel furnace worker, and his wife, Elizabeth.  By the age of 16, James was a Britannia metal smith.  In 1907, he launched a business as a silversmith, electro-plate and Britannia metal manufacturer.  His partner in the early days was Thomas Betts.  Furniss & Betts was located in Division Street until 1916, when the partnership was dissolved.  James Furniss continued alone in Division Street.  He relocated to Eyre Lane (1924-1935) and Portobello in 1936.  According to Matheau-Raven (1997)¹, the firm was incorporated in 1943.  James Furniss had died on 8 July 1940 at Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire.   He left £1,767 to his widow, Gertrude.  After the war, the business (capitalised at £4,000) was managed by T. Hall and Mrs A. E. Hall.  Its address at 16a Orange Street was adjacent to Edwin Blyde & Co, which acquired Furniss in about 1950.
 

^1. Matheau-Raven, E R, The Identification and Dating of Sheffield Electroplated Wares 1843-1943 (London, 1997)