A Brief History of the Birmingham Pen Trade

The unique blend of ingenuity and industrial expertise found in Birmingham thrust the city to the forefront of steel pen design and manufacture. It placed the city at the centre of the world pen trade during the 19th Century and kept it there until the decline of pen making after the 2nd World War.The Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham and the surrounding area offered a centre of skill and a pool of labour to support the development of pen manufacture. During the 19th Century over 100 companies grew up in the area.Towards the end of the century the number of manufacturers had been reduced to 12 main companies.

	Key Dates
1790	Samuel Harrison of Birmingham produced one of the first handmade steel pen for Joseph Priestly, who discovered oxygen.
1822	John Mitchell mass-produced pens using hand presses.
1830s	Joseph Gillott, Josiah Mason, John and William Mitchell became major manufacturers.
1860s	About 100 companies were involved in the trade, which was dominated by 12 large firms. Large numbers of women were employed in purpose-built factories in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.
1870s	Mason, Sommerville, Wiley, and Perry, merged to form Perry & Co Ltd.
1880s	Exports boomed.
1913	1.5 billion pens manufactured.
1918	Both the Pen Workers Union, and the Pen Makers Association were formed.
1945	Manufacturing switched to wartime production of items like ammunition clips.
1950s	Trade declined as industry faced competition from fountain pens and ballpoint pens.

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A Brief History of the Birmingham Pen Trade