Famous Silversmith # 8 Sampson Mordan

Sampson Mordan ( born in 1790 – died 9 April 1843) was not only a British silversmith but a co-inventor of the first patented mechanical pencil. As a young man he was an apprentice for the well known inventor and locksmith Joseph Bramah, who is the one that patented the first elastic ink reservoir for a fountain pen.

In 1822, co-inventor John Isaac Hawkins and Sampson filed the first patent in Great Britain for a metal pencil that had an internal mechanism which would propelling the graphite "lead" shaft out as being ussed. This was a big improvement on the less complex lead holders that only hold the lead in a single position.

one the patent was filed Mordan bought out Hawkins, he then formed a business partnership with Gabriel Riddle, an established stationer. From 1823 to 1837, Riddle and Mordan manufactured and sold silver mechanical pencils with the marking "SMGR". Whistles are another product he was know for creating, and many are still on display at the https://web.archive.org/web/20120324220014/http://whistlemuseum.com/2012/03/19/s-mordan-silversmith-history-and-examples-the-whistle-maker-a-strauss-.aspx



when the partnership with Riddle dissolved, Mordan became know for not only his pencils but his silverware also, he continued to sell his silver pencils as "S. Mordan & Co." he then went on to add many other silver and gold items to his product line. Mordan made many of his pencils in whimsical shapes that resembled animals, Egyptian mummies, and other objects; like his other work, the pencils are now highly collectible.After Mordan's death in 1843, his 2 sons Sampson (junior) and Augustus inherited the firm and continued to run it in the same fashion and with the same quality as their Dad. "S. Mordan & Co." continued to make silverware and brass postal scales until 1941. During the London Blitz their factory was destroyed by bombs and that was the end of the business.
Thanks for reading and Happy Stacking!

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampson_Mordan