Sampson Mordan

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Sampson Mordan ( 1790 - April 9, 1843 ) was a British silversmith and co-inventor of the first patented mechanical pencil .

Life

Detailed drawing for the patent from December 1822 with improvements to the pencil holder

Sampson Mordan was the apprentice of the inventor and locksmith Joseph Bramah, who patented the first elastic ink container for fountain pens .

In 1822, Mordan and John Isaac Hawkins filed the first patent in Great Britain for a metal pencil, the mechanism of which propelled the graphite stick forward while in use. The invention was an improvement on the less complex lead holders that only held pencils in place. Mordan paid Hawkins off and entered into a business partnership with Gabriel Riddle, an established stationery retailer. From 1823 to 1837 they jointly produced mechanical pencils made of silver.

After the dissolution of its partnership with Riddle Mordan sold his mechanical pencils under the company name S. Mordan & Co . and expanded its range with other silver and gold items. Mordan often made his pencils in whimsical shapes that resembled animals, Egyptian mummies, or other objects. Like his other cutlery and gold items, the pencils are collectibles today.

Mordan was the father of six children. After his death in 1843, his sons Sampson the Younger and Augustus Mordan took over the company. S. Mordan & Co. also manufactured silverware and postal scales made of brass. After the factory was destroyed by the German air raid on London known as The Blitz in 1941, the company ceased production.

literature

Web links

Commons : Sampson Mordan  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Woolley & Wallis: The KB Collection of Pencils. Woolley & Wallis, 2019, p. 4.
  2. ↑ James Ward: Adventures in Stationery. A Journey Through Your Pencil Case. Profile Books, 2014, ISBN 1-84765-871-7 , p. 109.
  3. ↑ Mark Hill: Sampson Mordan Pencils. In: Mark Hill Collects. The 20th Century Design and Collectibles Blog of April 30, 2009.
  4. ↑ A List of Silversmiths 'Hallmarks & Silver Makers' Marks: Sampson Mordan & Co Ltd. In: wheathills.com
  5. ↑ Deborah Crosby: Victorian Pencils. Tools to Jewels. Schiffer Publishing, 1998, ISBN 0-76430-413-5 , p. 62.
  6. ↑ Sampson Mordan. In: Grace's Guide to British Industrial History, gracesguide.co.uk
  7. ^ Brass Postal Scales by S. Mordan & Co. London. In: gilai.com from
  8. ^ Woolley & Wallis: The KB Collection of Pencils. Woolley & Wallis, 2019, p. 150.
personal data
SURNAME Mordan, Sampson
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British silversmith and inventor
DATE OF BIRTH 1790
DATE OF DEATH April 9, 1843