WYNN, TIMMINS & CO.

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Wynn, Timmins & Co.
Came across these adverts on Ebay as well as over a hundred items made by them for sale; must have been quite a major Birmingham company in its day – so decided to look into it’s history.


Wynn, Timmins & Co. was an amalgamation of two well established old Birmingham companies; “Richard Timmins & Sons” and “W. & C. Wynn & Co.”

1. Richard Timmins & Sons was probably founded in the early 1800s with premises at 56 Hurst Street later extended [1850] through to Pershore Street. They were listed as heavy steel toy and tool makers.



2. W. & C. Wynn & Co. originated as far back as 1813 in Suffolk Street. They made a variety of small steel items including shoe and knee buckles, fire-steels, key rings, netting vices, steel snuffboxes, steel pencil cases, tweezers, bodkins, etc. In 1849 they were listed as heavy steel toy and tool makers, including edged tools. In 1872 they moved to new premises in Commercial Street later renamed 'Century Works' in commemoration of a hundred years of trading in Birmingham.
advert c1850
In 1887 Richard Timmins & Sons was sold to W&C Wynn who then traded as Wynn, Timmins & Co. They remained in Birmingham until 1969 when they were taken over by Balfour and Darwins of Sheffield, and the Birmingham works was closed.

 

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Grace Guide…

Wynn, Timmins and Co - Graces Guide

 

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The claim that…..“W. & C. Wynn & Co. originated as far back as 1813 in Suffolk Street” could possibly be true, but more likely existed in different forms. The earliest in that form that I can find is March 1860 at 142 Suffolk Street.

 

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1856 there is a Messrs Wynn at Suffolk Street.
Also in 1855 a mention of Alderman Wynn at 142 Suffolk Street.

1828 advert for heavy steel toy filers, W and C Wynn, Suffolk Street.

 

[superdad3]

The claim that…..“W. & C. Wynn & Co. originated as far back as 1813 in Suffolk Street” could possibly be true, but more likely existed in different forms. The earliest in that form that I can find is March 1860 at 142 Suffolk Street.

Info from Graces Guide:

"W. and C. Wynn and Co​

formerly William & Cornelius Wynn & Co.
founded in 1787 in Caroline Street, maker of steel toys. Moved to Suffolk Street in 1813.


This is where I got the 1813 date from but also mindful that they celebrated their centenary in 1887 which confirms they were originally founded in 1787 by the Wynn brothers. Essentially the same family company from 1787 until 1887 when they bought Richard Timmins & Sons and changed the name to Wynn, Timmins & Co but the Wynn family continued to run it.

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Thanks that makes the trail more interesting !

 

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The date of founding of W & C Wynn looks more likely to be 1875 and although they were William and Cornelius Wynn they did sign themselves as W & C Wynn. The site fronted Caroline Street and Mary Street. (See today’s GE). There is a mention in 1795 of C Wynn, buckle maker, Caroline Street.

In 1810 two capital built houses were to be sold, being the Steel Toy Manufactory of Messrs Cornelius and William Wynn, who had notice to quit possession of the whole premises at the next Michaelmas day. There is a description of the premises.
Cornelius, who had been an overseer of the poor, and died in 1833. In 1836 William seems to retire from the business and it is left in the hands of John Cook Wynn (his son) and Robert Grove (who had married the daughter of Cornelius.)

John Cook Wynn died in 1876.

The cream building is at the corner of Mary Street and Caroline Street.

 

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For Richard Timmins and Sons Grace’s Guide gives an advert from 1839 saying they were established in 1790.
This can be backed up by an entry for Richard Timmins of Hurst Street, compass maker, in the Pye’s Birmingham Directory of 1797, and also Chapman’s Directory 1800.