Yard-O-Led
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Writing implements |
| Founded | 1934[1] |
| Founder | Ludwig Brenner[1] |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Tim Tufnell(Honorary President) |
| Products | Fountainandballpointpens,mechanical pencils |
| Parent | Filofax Group (1988–2015) |
| Website | yard-o-led |
TheYard-O-LedPencil Company is a manufacturing company founded inLondon,Englandin 1934 byGermanimmigrant, Ludwig Brenner,[1]to produce his patentpropelling pencilswhich contained twelve three inch leads (that is to say, 36 inches or a yard of lead). AfterWorld War IIthe company merged withSampson MordanLtd whose founder had patented the first mechanical pencil in 1822. They built a new factory inBirminghamand took over Edward Baker Ltd, another pencil maker.[2]
In 1988, the company was acquired by Filofax Group, which owned it until 2015, when it was re-established itself as "Imperial Yard Ltd". Yard-O-Led continues to producefountainandballpoint penspens as well asmechanical pencils;most of which are made fromhallmarkedsterling silver.
References
[edit]- ^abcCompany historyon Yard-O-Led website
- ^The story of Yard-O-Led
Further reading
[edit]- Collecting Old Pencils,John Watkins, Collectors Press (1970,) ASIN: B000J2HUQG
- Victorian Pencils: Tools to Jewels,Deb Crosby, Schiffer Publishing Ltd (Oct 1998),ISBN0-7643-0413-5
- The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance,by Henry Petroski
