Yard-O-Led

The Yard-O-Led Pencil Company was founded in London, England in 1934 by a Mr Brenner to produce his patent propelling pencils which contained twelve three inch leads. After the Second World War the company merged with Sampson Mordan Ltd whose founder had patented the first mechanical pencil in 1822. They built a new factory in Birmingham and took over Edward Baker Ltd, another pencil maker.[1]

The company is now part of the Letts Filofax Group and produces expensive fountain pens as well as pencils; most of which are made from hallmarked sterling silver.

References

Collecting Old Pencils, John Watkins, Collectors Press (1970,) ASIN: B000J2HUQG

Victorian Pencils: Tools to Jewels, Deb Crosby, Schiffer Publishing Ltd (Oct 1998), ISBN 0764304135

The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance, by Henry Petroski

External links