Sampson Mordan (1790 – 9 April 1843) was a British
silversmith and a co-inventor of the first patented
mechanical pencil. During his youth, he was an apprentice of the
inventor
An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It may also be an entirely new concept. If an ...
and
locksmith Joseph Bramah
Joseph Bramah (13 April 1748 – 9 December 1814), born Stainborough Lane Farm, Stainborough, in Barnsley, Yorkshire, was an English inventor and locksmith. He is best known for having improved the flush toilet and inventing the hydraulic pr ...
, who patented the first elastic ink reservoir for a
fountain pen.
In 1822, Mordan and his co-inventor
John Isaac Hawkins filed the first patent in
Great Britain for a metal pencil with an internal mechanism for propelling the graphite "lead" shaft forward during use, as an improvement on the less complex leadholders that merely clutched the pencil lead to hold it into a single position.
Mordan bought out Hawkins and entered into a business partnership with Gabriel Riddle, an established stationer. From 1823 to 1837, they manufactured and sold
silver mechanical pencils with the marking "SMGR".
After the partnership with Riddle dissolved, Mordan continued to sell his silver pencils as "S. Mordan & Co.", adding many other types of silver and gold items to his product line.
Mordan often made his pencils in whimsical "figural" shapes that resembled animals, Egyptian mummies, or other objects; like his other silverware and goldware, these pencils are now highly collectible.
Upon Mordan's death in 1843, his sons Sampson (junior) and Augustus inherited the firm. "S. Mordan & Co." continued to make silverware and brass postal scales until 1941, when their factory was destroyed by bombs during the
London Blitz.
Sampson Mordan hallmarks
The hallmarks changed over the years
Sampson Mordan Silver hallmark registered 1823.jpg, Registered 1823
Sampson Mordan Silver hallmark registered 1880.jpg, Registered 1880
Sampson Mordan Chester Silver hallmark registered 1889.jpg, Registered 1889 for use with Chester hallmarked pieces
Sampson Mordan Silver hallmark registered 1890.jpg, Registered 1890
Sampson Mordan Silver hallmark registered 1904.jpg, Registered 1904
Sampson Mordan Silver hallmark registered 1906.jpg, Registered 1906
Loculus of Samson Mordan in the Terrace Catacombs of Highgate Cemetery.jpg, The loculus of Samson Mordan in the Terrace Catacombs of Highgate Cemetery
References
External links
Sampson Mordan-History-and-Examples-The-Whistle-Maker, Whistle MuseumSampsonMordan.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mordan, William
1790 births
1843 deaths
Burials at Highgate Cemetery
English inventors
English silversmiths